By Dana Asby, CEI Intern Low-income urban youth have one of the highest rates of adverse childhood experience (ACE) prevalence, with one study reporting that more than 67% of the population have experienced at least one or more ACE and 12% have experienced 4 or more (Burke, Hellman, Scott, Weems, & Carrion, 2011). ACEs include: physical, emotional, or sexual abuse emotional or physical neglect homelessness or extreme poverty traumatic incidents witnessing violence. Adverse C

By Lindsey Erin Feltis, CEI Intern In recent years, schools that are implementing restorative practices have reported stronger teacher-student relationships, more equitable disciplinary measures, and decreases in office referrals and suspensions (Anyon, et al., 2016; Gregory, Clawson, Davis & Gerewitz, 2016; Lustick, 2017 ). In one experimental study, Anyon and colleagues (2016) looked at data from over 90,000 students from 180 schools in the United States. They found that st

By Maddy Pribanova, CEI Intern Overcoming Resistance Sometimes compassion and communication are not enough. The experience of child abuse, for example, has long-term implications for behavioral development and the trust and bonds children are able to form with adults (Odhayani, Watson, & Watson, 2013). Students with challenging and disruptive behaviors often come from backgrounds where there has been trauma or abuse (Odhayani et al., 2013). These children then struggle to tak

By Maddy Pribanova, CEI Intern Brene Brown’s TED talk on “The Power of Vulnerability” describes vulnerability as the birthplace of true intimacy and belonging. Connecting with others begins the moment we are born. As we grow, we learn how to form bonds from the people around us. Teaching children to be vulnerable helps empower them for later life and nurtures the sense of belonging that is so vital to our human existence. We are neurobiologically wired to live in “our tribe,

By June Naureckas, CEI Intern In my previous blog on Music Therapy and Trauma, I gave a general overview of music therapy. Listening to music has different therapeutic benefits from writing or performing music, but all can aid children and adolescents in processing trauma. Listening to Music When listening to music, familiar and preferred songs improve mood, while dissonant or “surprising” songs can worsen mood (Moore, 2013). In a study on music therapy in Midwestern domestic