Adolescents and Addiction and Rising Opioid/Marijuana Use Presentation Available Online

from ARHS PGO:

Last month, Dr Ruth Potee, Chair of the Healthcare Solutions Committee of the Franklin County/North Quabbin Opioid Task Force, spoke to the ARHS Community about Adolescents and Addiction and Rising Opioid / Marijuana Use.  The powerful presentation sparked ARHS Community dialogue about how we as a school and broader community think about teenage use and abuse of marijuana, pain pills and other drugs.  The event was jointly sponsored by the ARHS PGO, SPIFFY[The Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth] and the Town of Amherst.

To view the presentation, click here.

Dr Potee Substance Abuse Presentation

To discuss the implications of Dr. Potee’s presentation for ARHS and its students, a second meeting was held on Thursday, October 20. A group of ARHS parents and guardians brainstormed a range of possible initiatives aimed at keeping our students safe. We will keep the ARHS community informed about the direction of this work. If you are interested in becoming more involved, please email Mark Jackson[jacksonmk@arps.org] Thank you.

Supporting Children of Color in the Wake of Racialized Violence: A Conference Call on Oct 10, 2016

from Embrace Race, a non-profit based in Amherst, MA:

Our kids are exposed to racialized violence often. They witness, hear stories, and absorb our anxieties and their peers’ anxieties about anti-black, anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant violence and more. Research shows us that “toxic stress” caused by racism and violence can take a heavy toll on children. The challenge is especially acute in the case of children of color, who are more likely than white kids to identify with the victims of racialized violence. In response to many recent high profile incidents of racialized violence, parents, guardians, teachers and others want to know how best to help children make sense of these events.

Register for a free call for parents, teachers and other concerned adults to learn how you can best support kids of color in the wake of racialized violence.

Date: Monday, October 10th
Time: 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT
Duration: 1 hour

Can’t make it live? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recording and transcript.

On the call you’ll hear from child psychologist Dr. Allison Briscoe-Smith, educator Dr. Sandra “Chap” Chapman and Andrew Grant-Thomas and Melissa Giraud, the co-founders of Embrace Race. You’ll learn how to help children feel safe without overpromising or making them fearful. We’ll also discuss how to teach kids to approach the world with love and possibility when they so often seem targeted for harm.

Register for the call — even if you can’t join the live event.