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Recent Newsletter Articles

Taking Care of Yourself: A Checklist

This checklist outlines the three basic aspects of self-care – awareness, balance, and connection – and offers a list of ideas for self-care strategies to use after a difficult event. As the resource indicates, "There are several ways you can find balance, be aware of your needs, and make connections. Use this list to help you decide which self-care strategies will work for you." Read More

SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach

The authors explain, "The purpose of this paper is to develop a working concept of trauma and a trauma-informed approach and to develop a shared understanding of these concepts that would be acceptable and appropriate across an array of service systems and stakeholder groups.... The desired goal is to build a framework that helps systems 'talk' to each other, to understand better the connections between trauma and behavioral health issues, and to guide systems to become trauma-informed." Read More

Call to Mind: Spotlight on Childhood Trauma

According to the website, Call to Mind is an initiative by MPR to inform and generate conversations about mental health. This podcast explores the impact of childhood trauma on mental health and suggests ways to build resilience in children. The impact of childhood trauma on adults is applicable to ABE practitioners. Read More

I Didn’t Know It Had a Name: Secondary Stress and Educators

From the article: "Whether you’re a teacher, paraprofessional, counselor, or school resource officer, every staff member cares deeply about students. And that means being exposed to the traumas students bring into school every day, including poverty, grief, family problems, racism, drug abuse. Even if they have not endured trauma themselves, educators can begin exhibiting symptoms similar to those of their students – withdrawal, anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue." Read More

Teaching ABE Students About Mental Health

This virtual workshop is provided by PANDA - Minnesota ABE Disability Specialists. Workshop participants will reflect on questions regarding teaching ABE students of all levels about mental health and common mental health concerns. Participants will also review "What is Mental Health?" and "Common Mental Health Concerns" lesson plans and resources to consider uses within their own contexts. Read More