This article by The New York Times entitled “Empathy Not Expulsion for Preschoolers” recently made the rounds on social media. It highlighted the work of an “early childhood mental health specialist”. She provided assessment, education, and consultation to preschools in Illinois. One case highlighted the need to provide trauma focused interventions for a preschooler rather than expelling him.
LOVE THIS!! We need more programs like this. The Adverse Child Experience Studies (ACES) demonstrate the long term cost of ignoring childhood trauma. Also there is growing evidence that preschool and elementary mental health screening and intervention are highly effective.
Let’s stop kicking kids out of our schools and grow supports like this. The costs keep adding up. I shutter to think how many youth with unrecognized trauma and mental health issues continue to get expelled from school. The above article is an example and provides a strong argument for more programs like it. I would argue “Empathy Not Expulsion for All Students!”
Sean 🙂
