Testimony on the importance of trauma informed practices and education to assist students impacted by gun violence and other adversities. I know for the subcommittee. On both sides of the aisle where theres been an opportunity to withstand the witnesses be Opening Statements are limited to the chair and the Ranking Member. I want to begin by acknowledging that this morning marks 18 years since the terrorist attacks september 11. Let us please take a moment to remember the 1,799 lives lost in those attacks. The first morning we are here to discuss the governments responsibility to ensure every child has a nurturing learning environment. 34 million have endured a childhood experience that can render their ability to learn and grow. Extensive Research Shows paying attention and with depression or anger. The challenges can be further compounded by discipline with support in my district they lost the campus and in the new school year especially when they have their homes lost in a to obtain oother campuses into the Campus Community of their own. While they do not understand how they will feel over time under the circumstances they show that over a lifetime victims of trauma can face a higher risk of drug and alcohol abuse, rates of suicide and shorter lifespan. The pediatrics have been quoted as saying a there are preventable forms children experience more frequently thanc anywhere else it 50 times higher than others. According to a database maintained by the washington post, 428,000 students have experienced gun violence since the columbine tragedy in 1999. 428,000. Am americans are 50 times more violent than the citizens in other countries. One distinction is that wepa failed to pass basic gun law prevention that is supported by an overwhelming share. The consequences are felt in communities like el paso and Virginia Beach that have experienced Mass Shootings in the past. They are also felt by residents in chicago, detroit and other cities. One of the hearing is about implementing, it is preventable. Reducing gun violence into improving access to Mental Health care in addressing poverty at some of the challenges for the quality of life for children across the country. Given that we have shown the ability to address these issues, but we can educate children through identifying action. Cmore than 70 said hed been told Health Services do not receive the appropriate care. Students of color who are more likely to experience trauma are also in segregated schools that cannot afford critical Mental Health resources. And as a result disproportionately offer the fiscal and emotional effects of umthe problem. T the children that are affected by trauma included and to make matters worse, they are further restricting Mental Health care. We brought in our understanding of the practices and the Discipline Services to improve the rate and to understand how congress can support the trauma and practices that are proven to help students succeed. Todays discussion is an important step towards addressing the basi basic publichealth issue is affecting the communities across the country. Thank you to the witnesses for being here and i will yield to thee Ranking Member for his Opening Statement. Thank you, mr. Chairman and thank you for recognizing the anniversary. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you for recognizing the anniversary of 9 11 its 9 11 is importance given to stay. Sadly far too many children are affected by trauma because of their age or reliance on adult to keep them safe, they are vulnerable to trauma. But she was 26 will witness or experience aen traumatic event before they turn for. More than two thirds reported at least one traumatic event by age 16. Even more, statistics surrounding children in the welfare system. 95 of children reported psychological than physical abuse, and 99 reported physiological, psychological and sexual abuse. This is absolutely heartbreaki heartbreaking. It can include in a variety of events such as physical and sexual abuse, Cyber Bullying they negatively impact their daily lives. In fact it can affect a childs education. The study of more than 1,000 1,0 children were between large cities in the United States they are below average academic and little skills as a child is at a level of third grade they are likely to drop out of school and theres an 85 chance of being incarcerated. Educators and school staff serve as the critical support system for traumatized children and their families. A student is acting out, failing tests were having difficulty concentrating may be a sign of trauma. The teachers understand a student and what they are facing they can better accommodate in the classroom. Teachers and Education System are another placement for families. Moms and dads and grandfathers and grandmothers cannot be replaced in the life of a child. It cannot be replaced in the life of a child. Its just one piece of supporting. It is my goal when i ran for office it is time to quit losing our children. Instead we should focus on equipping families, schools, communities with the tools they need to be successful leaders. They are our future. The hearing will examine the effects of trauma on schoolchildren and how to identify and address them and how to help students have access to saf a safe, supportive and healthy learningor environment. I have the opportunity when we were on our District Court perioDistrict Courtperiod to vis officials i will not name the superintendent opportunity to visit as tears came to his eyes and t she described three suicis of young people in the School System last year. I asked him why. He said they are without hope. Its interesting i was given a book in a meeting two weekends ago called death on hold. I never thought somebody on death row would teach me what this government taught me in reading this book about what he went through as a child and what he experienced in the streets and why he was onwa death row ad whby now he is making an impactn so many lives. I highly recommend this book. Its required reading for members of congress because i think that they will see where the problem lies. Thank you mr. Chairman and i look forward to hearing our Witnesses Today. Without objection to other members start to be published in insert their statements into the record to the work electronically in microsoft word format. I will now introduce the witne witness. The Surgeon General also in awardwinning physician researcher dedicated to changing the way our schools and our society is in response to one of the most extensive and widespread Public Health crisis of our time, childhood trauma. She founded the center for the organizations to be a National Leader in the effort to advance pediatric medicine, raise Public Awareness and transfor transfore way society responds also founded and led by scientific screenings and treatments in the experiences she also published a book entitled the longterm effects of childhood adversity. Next, the associate superintendent of Mcdowell School in west virginia. In her 16th year as an educator and as a High School Administrator in charge from riverview high school. Doctor berger works as an associate superintendent at the schools and serves as the coordinator and works extensively to support the development of comprehensive Student Support. Doctor barker earned her bachelors in english and completed a masters of arts from westst Virginia University in secondary education. Doctor barker is here for the leadership university. The stat state superintendent of public instruction in oklahoma was elected to serve as the state superintendent november 2014 and began his second term in january of this year. They revealed t the ineffective exams in the accountability system and student safety. To emphasize on the collaboration and focus on ensuring children have equal access to opportunities, strength and academic standards and testing evaluation sent from statewide attention to the needs of the children where they are. And finally, not the least, the chief executive officer of chicagos public School System. Immersed in cps her entire life as a former student, teacher, principal, chief Education Officer and now as a parent. We appreciate all the witnesses for being here today we look forward to your testimony. Let me just remind the eyewitnesses see we have your written statementses and they will go in the f hearing records. Each of you is asked to limit your oral presentation to a fiveminute summary of your Opening Statement us code section 101 it is illegal to knowingly and willfully to a false statement or to coverup a material fact when you begin your testimony please remember to press the button on the microphonett the microphone will turn on so the members can hear you after four minutes the light will turn yellow to signal you have one minute remaining after it turns red your five minutes have expired and please wrap up we will let the entire panel make their presentation before going to questions please remember to turn your microphone on. I will first recognize ms. Harris you have five minutes to make good morning and thank you for the opportunity for participating in this hearing. A robust body of literature shows to be highly prevalent strongly associated with childhood and adult health and Mental Health and behavior in social outcomes and to demonstrate a pattern of high rates of intergenerational transmission. High levels of adversity with a trusted caregiver in a stable environment lead to overactivity of the biological stress response and changes in brain structure and function the function of the immune and inflammatory systems and development these changes are what comprise of what is now known as a toxic stress response. 62 percent of American Adults have experienced at least once those with four or more have a risk of seven out of ten of the leading causes of death in the United States including Heart Disease and stroke and cancer. The original cdc Research Done in a population 70 percent caucasian 70 percent collegeeducated. There is no so show demographic with geographichi groups the higher the score the more likely the individual is to also struggle with depression and ptsd eating disorders and Substance Abuse the National Study of more than 35000 adults found even after adjusted were so she owed demographics and Substance Use these are independently associated with four times the risk of incarceration. Similarly research has indicated a common factor of shootings is a history among the most notable is impacts of learning and behavior compared to children with no aces four or more they are 32 times as likely to experience learning and behavior problems and three times as likely to repeat a grade. Adverse childhood experiences are a Public Health crisis with that coordinated cross sector response. And Early Detection or intervention schools and educators are critical part of the ecological and Public Health response to toxic stress. To ensure that all personnel could be possible symptoms and that training and practices and policies in the calm physical environment transparent and predictable rules and nonpunitive consequences. And participatory decisionmaking by students of School Policy and explicit Community Involvement including support for families for managing stress. Distorted disciplinary practices and programs to prevent read traumatization should be number one to support Vulnerable Children and youth should align with those six pillars which include promoting health and nutrition and physical exercise mindfulness and Mental Health hygiene and supportive relationships in addition trauma and educating w wellbeing are the elements for trauma informed educational environments and important elements also include workforce training dissemination of best practices and rigorous evaluation. As noted by authors in a recent commentary the who and the cdc recognizes schools are not the only places to transmit Academic Knowledge but also were Vulnerable Children can connect with supportive adults and peers outside of their family. And then to be shown against protection Substance Abuse and other risky behaviors to promote academic. The opportunity ahead of us is the true intersection and i urge you to use this information on behalf of americans. Thank you very much i work one of the poorest places in the United States. These numbers a Drug Overdose rates and secretly with academic achievement and those issues with those brought to us by generational poverty the generational trauma the adverse impacts of these challenges behavior and academics the main focus on survival for thein basic need the mental capacity in their lives so thinking about doing math and that social structure thats why we have challenging behaviors with a variety of resources for all of our students it with those trauma influence practices that it is overwhelming and complex intermediate also the economic status coming to us with several aletter scores with this abuse Drug Overdose and they can break that cycle to strengthen social connections to help children have social h andot emotional the educators have a choice to help families and children of men we choose the latter but they do not do the job alone with Mental Health and social work therefore to have a strategy with the community but one providers also an equity strategy with various Community Organizations and with that kinship support. And to have so many partnerships as the principal struggle to find time to do this in addition to the construct loan instructional duties and then we have very few teachers with a stable environment to have been emphasis because the schools donte frequently in the partnerships themselves social workers and the challenges it with that funding and when that travel is needed we should not have to choose between Mental Health therapist and social workers those types of services are vital to succeed in the schools have become hubs of community to engage in the approach with social and emotional support. And then in that destructive behavior and that risky behavior also to break that cycle love generational poverty and trauma in their lives as their parents also deal with that trauma themselves. Thank you so much for your timeso. Good morning thank you chairman, Ranking Member and members of the committee i was has elected state superintendent of public instruction in 2014 and reelected in 2018 with that opportunity to appear before you to discuss the effects of childhoodis trauma on the academic performance and the social and emotional growth. Oklahoma has made tremendous strides in Public Education taand accountability with these these are the stark realities of poverty the world outside the classroom has an undeniable impact for inside the classroom. Are recent National Survey shows that oklahomas youngest children suffer more children than any other state but according to the Casey Foundation oklahoma ranks 42nd in the nation. 75 percent of our students have moderate or serious depression and then they admit to a low school with a high risk of drug abuse. House we equip teachers to move toward resilience and a Bright Future we believe the key is instruction so recent work on the science of health makes clear that the stable at all is a common factor moving from trauma to hope. February 2019 through title iv funding and community and Agency Partners held to statewide trauma summits both were heavily attended and for all educators approximately 42000 classroom teachers. So providingng increased support the implication of trauma is a priority of the state agency to provide professional Development Opportunities come educators to better understand the connection between traumao and the negative impact. So we have cross Agency Collaboration to address student academic performance and behavior to offer Student Support with onsite intervention and professional development and to be developed last spring it consist of directors of social and emotional counseling, academic counseling, Prevention Services in college and Career Readiness and Work Based Learning and Community Engagement and suicide prevention. We soon have a specialist to a Crisis Response team. Our Student Support team has Educational Opportunities for classroom interventions for more than 4000 oklahoma educators. Through college and Career Readiness and we are learning students who have planned for the future are more the future and can mitigate those implications ofn trauma and it is required statewide but already students tell us that the friends are coming to school more more purposeful in their work and were optimistic about life after high school. So among our educators we see support between teachers and students. One teacher said after attending trauma informed Instruction Professional Development we brought back classroom intervention strategies to implement them in a few classrooms and notice that student discipline referrals went to zero with these teachers. We are already seeing the change in the student behaviors of test scoresdldeneet students they connect with us and care about us and with that evidencebased strategy and greater awareness of trauma we allow them to harness that creativity to develop positive connection so in closing to say trauma is a fact of life and we believe we can move our children from trauma. Thank you very much. Now i would like to recognize doctor jackson. Good morning Ranking Member and members of the committee i am the chief executive officer for Chicago Public schools that serve 361,000 students i am grateful for this invitation to talk about one of the challenges that we face in chicago. Many students are growing up in communities that struggle povertye weight ofug with to be significantly impacted by violence. The purpose of testimony is to create trauma for chicagos children and the steps that is taken for the damaging effects of trauma the first these are children who live in a world that is overly abundant to describe their community and their own words that can be trusted because that is a way of life. This can mean they are exposed to gun violence gangea activity incarceration of a loved one or loss of about one and they are far moreree likely to experience multiple traumas during the formative years. This repeated exposure can have farreaching effects like teachers all over the country chicago educators build a team of certainty right along the students that they serve every day referred to a secondary trauma. Both students and teachers it becomes a form of toxic stress in your braidwood left untreated. For students it can lead to behavior problems or Mental Health or drug and alcohol abuse and notug a to mention constant struggles in the xpclassroom. They are at risk for behavior issues and increased likelihood to drop out of o school. This could easily have been a problem but as one of those that they invested in the situation is changing and the first of its kind Program Targeting students like we did before those that were underserved urban communities who are at risk to be impacted by violence during the six week program 430 youth participated in the enrichment opportunity given access to mental and trauma interned that they needed they gave them access for the trustworthy adults that they can open up to. That one of those 430 students that participated was a victim of violence. When we saw the overall reduction of 50 percent of gun violence and victimization with theed alternative School System we hope the summer for a change program contributes to this type of success and we can continue to providede students with a safe haven that avoids what we discussed earlier many of thosee initiatives with those practices that are moving us away to uncovering the root cause of behavior while keeping kids in school where wthey belong with that out of School Suspension to the lowest ever dropout rate in history. Other targeted traumas from anxiety and depression to take responsibility this helps them ensure to prepare for success after high school so one other example a student call cara grown up without her mother or other female adults at her home and struggles in isolation getting into conflicts with peers at school to join a structured Psychotherapy Program and thinks of started to turn around shes learning to talk through her emotions and make better decisions helping her to develop those coping skills stresser manage your chicago has been fortunate to receive federal grant support the impact is significant particularly as students continue to cope with poverty and violence but to keep this work going the districts around the country need Additional Support for increased federal funding the combined effects onn our youth as the leaders unite with those Treatment Services to meet their need to put them on a road to recovery with a productive and fulfilling life. I look forward to yourlo questions. Under Committee Rule eight aletter we will now question witnesses and the five minutees rule. And then to be followed by the Ranking Member. Thank you mister chairman into our Witnesses Today i am so grateful we are talking about this and also as a pediatrician to hear this from a perspective and how we can address this and this is a difficult problem because so many adverse childhood events happen at home so when a patient comes into the office we try to partner with parents to make thingso better but when there is so much dysfunction at home whether abuse or separation or drug abuse or disease it makes it harder to follow up in the exam room so a lot of that of course the school should be the other safe place but a couple of questions about the difference between the expulsion suspension traditional response and how that contrasts. So what we can do to help these families. And in Washington State there are no exemplary programs that meet the families where they are one of them is called the triple pletter program and it aims to prevent a lot of this behavioral and emotional problems that we see inn kids the other is Guiding Good Choices Program that helps between nine and 14 yearolds who are just entering a turbulent period to make good choices through adolescence. The triple pletter positive outcome limiting out of home placements and academic success is outstanding with the savings of 1400 per kid. Regarding the Choices Program the increases of the positive interactions between parents and children in lower rates of Substance Abuse and effects that even last 40 years out. There are some other programs that you would like and recommend what those challenges of rural communities. We recognize that when we talk about other childhood experiences we have to break e that intergenerational cycle. In california we are implementing universal screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences and responding with trauma a enforce care with the government allocated to reimburse providers for doing that and 60 million to train how to do that. So to ensure that adults have access to Mental Health services for those who are under stress it has to be a two generation approach to make thank you very much. Are there particular programs i should look over look into . I love the implement the Screening Program so we will be learning from you in california. I recommend tpp clinical intervention i have used in a clinical practice as well as any trauma focused therapy that can be used and adults. Doctor jackson can you paint a picture for my colleagues about what it would lookco like traditionally if you had a child who is misbehaving in school that they would be sent home as opposed to those that have drugs or neglect versus how you handle that with trauma informed education. Chicago Public Schools we first start look at the policy leading not only tot students being suspended and expelled but the disparity between africanamericans and their peers. We change the policy to meet teachers and principals and administrators have to goad deeper to identify the root cause and show an effort to address those root causes through Restorative Justice and access to Mental Health professionals in the school or outside of the community. So what this has resulted in is that fewer students resulted in higher attendance rates that had a direct impact on student achievement which has been addressed today. Ev. Critical hearing on a topic. It is a force from so many perspectives of how it impacts a human being when it comes to qupacting your children who quite frankly may not have developed the resiliency and the skills to be able to prevent the force of trauma longterm. Thank you for bringing your best practices. This framed the science of hope which is what you all are about andur its about establishing te resiliency its sad that they have to experience it and what has really made it present in every School District in the nation and the trauma, loss of loved ones and what that does. In your testimony, you mentioned the importance of professional development and preparation programs focusing on trauma. Can you provide specific examples of what this looks like . It is based on the science of hope at the university of oklahoma. When we gave our teacher more information to better understand behavior. Sleeping in the back of the classroom in a middle School Teacher may ask whats wrong with that kid is. They are able to be more engaged and also have that one caring adult neno is paramount to a Contest Congress to swiftly every Student Succeeds out. Ande recognized the need authorized programs. This is something of course that starts and ends with teachers there is a strong relationship and it starts with teachers engaging students and it can be assembled as simple as. Not just teaching a subject and or students tell us takes all the difference in the world the teacher washe so engaging ad communicated with him teachers can foster hope and that is the resiliency and we do not have the ability to bounce back. I would make it because i cannot recognize the chairman of the committee they can improve outcomes and when you have someone showing up with multiple, what do you do . The nurturing environments are key. Every adult in every child in that environment to be a dose of a battering relationship if you will. It improves both health and also Mental Health and behavioral outcome. Thank you for that question. In their readiness and achievement proficiency in the School System there are correlations between student attendance we can track our students over tim time and Graduation Rates were weve experiencewhere we haveexperiene about eight years, much of that can be attributed to the changes that theyve made around addressing the cause analysis of whats going on making sure we are intervening early and them onately to keep track is a deep analysis of the practices as well as a the dataf the schools we look at and the amount of time students have been suspended, access to resources they have and the intervention and support that they have received in three different levels. It has incentivized educators of the buildings and just give a quick data plan point since we e instituted a strategy five years ago we have a third of the schools receiving the seal of approval on the certification to now having close to 75 of the schools and the goal is 100 but that is pretty dramatic progress in a fight here. A a lot of that has been covered today but just to reiterate the students that have an exposed they are more likely to repeat a behavior that they have either beenienced and have exposed to. One of the things that we also focus on in addition to gun violence and the effects of poverty and some of the other things talked about a lot today is looking at the challenges. Many of them have a higher likelihood ofho being exposed to incidents in their lives and so this has become a bigger priority. What we tend to see is students drop out of school and are at a higher risk for productive behavior and a higherfo risk for suicide and other things that can be dramatic. So, one of our goals is to intervene as soon as possible to try to reverse some of those negative outcomes. Very quickly, can you tell me the importance of the title for Student Support services . I think the importance, we talk a lot about this today, projects like the project prevention funding in things other district applied for provide us with additional funding and support. We now know better so its incumbent. Once we get to a place we have always reached a utopia if we will i talked a little bit of a second, earlier and i want to lift that up. We do notot adequately train the teachers that work with them every single day this time. Thank all the witnesses are coming before the committee today. With other problems they face in your experience what have you found to be the common indicators of a child struggling with trauma or a Traumatic Stress . A child that appears as engaged as i mentioned earlier, does have a story behind that, and that is something that has teachers we foster the connection if they begin to understand a little more deeply what is occurring. Its taking care of the younger children that got them to school on time, or there could be barriers that occur that we can see as we dive a little deeper boabout those that are chronicay absent, so it is incumbent upon us in school to meet our kids where they are and look for ways to remove the barriers to identify those and remove them so that our students were able to be successful. I think we focused a lot in the last number of years on student achievement. We also have not had the expensive conversation we are having now about all aspects of the student thinking about the child and that is something we are doing differently, and those types of indications that a student is having him look different for every child. We need teachers and educators and School Board Members to have new eyes and a new lens for the students that they are serving it up anand then act on that evo create more sensitive School Policy. You talk about removing their ears. What can be done to encourage kids to actively seek help . I think its about being sensitive to where our kids are. It can look different in different settings. Im thinking of an example just the start of this school year you have tornado drills and he was reaching out and one of my School Superintendents been and how they had a very significant tornado that had devastation fon for the Community Just in may so an example of what can we do is what they did and it was each, informed policy. They were able to see kids that were going to go through that drill and there were 14 of them that were very effective and impacted by that event and they had a caring abou caring about d holding their hand through the entire exercise and they were just there for them the rest of the day and its a small thing but it made a great difference in those childrens lives and it also allowed them to at least stay o and focus on learning tht day. The superintendent told me learning wasnt taking place for them that they. As we think, we cant make assumptions about what those will be. Students that have endured abuse at home or witnessed violence in the home, oklahoma have a high level of incarcerated men and women in fact the largest incarcerated population in the world per capita in our state and this is something that impacts families of course it means many of our children have a high incidence of average experiences comes of having eyes to see the child where they are and being willing to not use more of a blanket cookie cutter approach is the call. We want simply to build a relationship and it unfolds from there. What role does the family play in this process . A significant role. We believe that Strong Families make Strong Communities and schools. We want to strengthen families and also has educators, we want to reach out to families to meet them where they are. We want to find ways to include them where perhaps they also negative experience in school and dont want to cometio school. They dont want to be as engaged as we know they needag to be and it will in fact benefit their children so we will meet them where they are any more welcome way an to find new ways to do t. When you are homeless or in other ways homeless and has a child in school it means you have to be more fleeting for example, we still have to have a way to connect, and those are some of the examples. At you for your testimony. Y. I will yield back. Good morning, everyone and thank you for being here for this important hearing. I represent a Congressional District that has been designeda by tragedy. In my own School District we did extensive work on trauma training all of our social workers on childhood experiences and hosting a symposium church, and early childhood. All of our teachers and faculty members went through professional development on social and Emotional Learning. One of the presenters i remember this very clearly told us as a group of her children weregh scoring just as high as veterans on the scale. And i know personally that once educators begin to see students through this lens they can shift from blaming them to begin to understand the root causes of those behaviors. What i want to talk about today is the fact that it extends beyond the point of impact. Grief counseling happens the day after something happens at a school, but the grief resulting from those tragedies extends communities, and i see that everyday. One of the parents of a student aof sandy hook tragically took his own life 90 of kindergartners reported experiencing visa offense but only 23 for explaining symptoms and what that tells us is that 67 of students are experiencing unidentified and untreated allowing them to work in overtime. I cringe to think that these children are coming of age and have all of these experiences they do not know how to address. If i could introduce this testimony that isolated into the record. I have two questions today. What can we do for families to make sure they have t the suppot they need to years, five years down the road to make sure especially in communities that have these issues we can identify because i think the one thing we can all agree on is that its not the childrens fault. The families that they come from. Then my next question if you could followup what do you think the impact is on the educators who have to year after year stand in front of children often times we think of events like the one i just described the children with prolonged, as a result of their daily interactions and the children who see this year after that year and its kind of hard to see hope when you are repeating the cycle every single year. Excellent questions. I think there are a couple of critical pieces. Number one, a recognition of trauma and the community that is so common a true Public Health approach involves universal precaution if you will. This is why its so critical because we have to provide is routinely as a way of doing business and education in order to respond to the endemic levels of trauma that we are seeing. Another feeds is the role of screening and partnerships. The problem is so high that i hear educators saying okay, what can we do and doctors say what rcn we do. Do. Do. All enforcement says how can we be part of the, solution, and when each of us takes a little piece theres a tremendous amount we can do across the communities and increasing debt, akmaking sure that every adult n the environment understands not only how they are managing their own. The fact i dont mean to let cut you off but i cant let my time expired. Ti will be quick. We see Higher Turnover rates and also depression. We have had the teachers report depression as a result of some of the things they have been able to hear and not only because the stories are so challenging, but because in some cases its a feeling of hopelessness. When we dont have the resources or a place to point students and families to when they have the courage to share with us whats going on, teachers feel hopeless in that regard and that cant contribute some o to some of ths that have been reported. At this time im going to recognize the Ranking Member of the committee. I want to thank the witnesses for being here today. In your testimony you discuss the cross Agency Collaboration to address the needs of students experiencing trauma. Can you please explain in depth what this collaboration looks like and why it is a critical component in helping the students . Thank you very much, representative. Yes, this is essential. We are working in oklahoma in the department of education to work with our partners in the department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse services. With that work, for example, we are able to be able to have more students participate in the Oklahoma Prevention Needs Assessment survey and the last reported school year we had 47,940 students participate in sixth, eighth and 12th grade. That is one example. From that, we were able to learn a lot about the evidence that they are providing us and then develop strategies to meet the needs. Partnerships, it goes beyond one or two agencies. Actually, it is across the board we are working with the department of corrections. I want to see those parents engaged better able to be engaged in the lives of their children even through something unique print conference is where that is appropriate. We are grappling with Health Issues and working with other entities within the state agency to work with the department and the Health Department as well to work on battling the physical aspects of health. You mentioned in response to the questions about the family that you have the largest per capita incarceration rate in oklahoma in the country. I would assume from that that there are a lot of single parent families in oklahoma. I thank you for that question. What we know on the index having divorce and family impacts children as an Adverse Childhood Experience, so it does contribute. In oklahoma, we have among the states the leading and very high divorce rate as well. We also have because of the high incarceration rate many children in foster care again at the top of the list. All of that said, its about strengthening families come and we see in oklahoma the need for loving family members, parents, grandparents, extended family, and wherend we dont have that,e see community. Stepping into bridge the gap for students, and this is part of that work as we think about the, informed practices in the communities. Thank you. In your testimony, it says that 75 of your students suffer from serious depression. Budepression. That is a staggering number. As the work thais the work thatg aroundtrauma informed construction developed to address this issue and how much does the data about the Student Needs drive the development of the Instruction Program . Thank you again. And yes, this is the Needs Assessment where we did received a very compelling information from students coming and we also know that it doesnt have to simply be at program about menl health. We see crossover impacts with our Career Pathway work in postsecondaryse planning with te individual career academic planning which is now statewide, a requirement for graduation but it starts earlier, sixth grade, seventh grade, eighth grade. Students tell us as we have spent two years piloting the students engaged in this have an awareness of a future beyond the castle and graduation but its about something more. And teachers that are not just delivering tests at the end of the course but they are looking at it as the student and their strengths. Ng thise has had an impact on hopig and oon the trauma informed pras that was unexpected and we are studying with our researchers. S. Thank you mr. Chairman. I will yield. I want to be more strict on time because we have more members who would like to do questioning. At this time i would like to recognize mr. Morel for five minutesze please. Im sorry. Im really sorry. [inaudible]dr madam, last week, hhs offer to the Inspector General public report which i will submit for the record following an investigation of immigrant children in detention centers. With the report outlined is how this administrations child separation policy makes worse the trauma that immigrant children have already experienced on theirig journey o this country. Investigators separated children exhibited more symptoms of anxiety, fear, abandonment and postTraumatic Stress disorder damn those that have not been separated from their parents. What does the science a bout the effects of separating Young Children from their parents and placing them in an adequate positions quick. The science on that is unequivocal it is a harmful practice both physical health risks as well as mental, psychological and developmental. Thank you you had a lot of immigrant children come through in your School System with your own experience to be separated with their families for a period of time. Yes with us some of the comments in particular at the School System with the sanctuary cities a lot of students emigrate to the United States and setting up a home ind chicag chicago. We do our best to support those students when they disclose their status and to navigate that process with no barriers to enrollment but working with students to make sure that there is stability in their home life with access to resourcesei or no that they know how to this is an area where we could be doing more. With students and families and how they feel or trust the School System or any agency so the more we show awareness to support students and n families they will disclose their status and ask for that support making it easier to identify kids who have experienced traumant they would disclose us we could support them so i still see a huge disconnect because many families in particularr our immigrant or undocumented families do not trust the Government Agencies enough to disclose their status. What advice of those facilities that are Holding Children that are separated from parents, that have not thought about or invested in training the teachers working with those children so what advice would you give to us that if we will hold unaccompanied children we should be training teachers quick. We definitely agree the teachers need and what professional development suppor support. Students through all kinds of trauma are arriving at school doors coming off the school bus. Teachers are telling us that they want more specifics more clinical and practical advice for some things we are addressing again at a state level summit one is called bridges to hope to teach in the shadow trauma. Trauma is trauma. We open our arms wide for any child that comes through the door and the teachers deserve to have that training whether title ii or title iv of dollars and we are grateful for that. I yelled back. Thank you very much doctor. At this time youre recognized for five minutes. I know that we were told that 15000 children came into this country unaccompanied by parents. I think we should all agree its all better for children to be with their parents and right now under american law we have to accept these children forgot would be happy to work to make sure that they are not allowed into the country are sent back to countries of origin if they could be reunited with parents and second not even to think that the Border Guards if one parent is back in Central America or whatever i know some of this bothers the courts and in our courts parents are separated we try to keep them in the same area as the children. I would be happy to work with you and if a parent shows up with the children and the pair is in another country but again to send them back immediately to the country of origin so the children can be with both parents. If i might respond but if they are here or incarcerated by us in a facility we are offering Educational Services whenever they are offered. Yes. Thats the problem we have too many people around here that dont want to address the problem. Just because the statistics you are telling us that 75 percent of the children in oklahoma suffer moderate or serious depression . Of 2120 are suffering depressio depression . Twentyone outut of 28 quick. That is what the data tells us. Again we have surveyed 47000. I just encourage you i wasnt aware you had so many immigrants in the chicago School System of the sanctuary city how many come with immigrant children with both parents are one parent or no parents quick. I dont have that informatio information. That is very relevant if you point to other data why dont you get that information for us i would like to know that spec for the record we do not collect that information as a School District we have removed every barrier for students to enroll. You dont know if johnny breaks hisondi arm you dont knw if no parent or wander to parents are atm, home quick. Yes we know who is the parent or guardian of record but we dont know their status , we dont ask that information when they enroll. Our doors are open to all students mimic best not the point thats not the purpose of this hearing but it seems to me of something horriblee happens, a Health Crisis the parent should know both mom and dad should know if just one parent is they are or no parents or a guardian or Foster Parent they should know. We do have information for the guardian and parents of record. So you cannot tell us a percentage of immigrants in chicago of those who came here. No serve. That is not information we collectio. The next question and i foll follow up on the congresswomans comments. There are all sorts of statistics to breakdown by race with people getting in trouble at school so do you adjust for parents at home, we have had a dramatic change in the last 50 years in this country. Many less children with both parents in the home. But overall many could do bette better. Are you adjusting for the parental situation at home quick. No. We aggregate the data with race, socioeconomic class, gender, i think those are the make sure theyre not special needs we do not segregate data based on family status. That stuns me. That is something that can change peoples behavior. You will change your race any of these other things. You have been very patient thank you. You are now recognized for five minutes. Thank you mister chairman. This is truly an important topic and i appreciate each of the witnesses and the testimony. This is an important topic. So to talk about upstate new york. Rochester has over the last several years to be identified number two or three of childhood poverty so something that is distressing the impacts ofme poverty. And working on a number of initiatives but in the context of the work around poverty i would admit to the fact that people would talk about p trauma that was generally regarded as Domestic Violence or gangrelated violence and it has become clear over the years we have become sensitized housing and Food Insecurity and things you dont necessarily see easily. That leads me to believe to not only have Trauma Informed Care in our community but in a disciplinary way. Doctor fryer talks about how the medical community and nurse practitionerss see trauma. In rochester we try to break down the silos betweenra educatio education, health and Youth Services of those professionals can speak to one another and identify trauma. I am very engaged in and very optimistic about. Weve all done a great job to identify the development and future success for trauma and talking about the types of things you areg. Doing but would like you to talk in more detail is screening but what does the research tell you how to identify trauma in children there are some obvious things of children that are withdrawn but i suspect some carry the impact of trauma that is harder to see. What are you doing to become more sensitive or more aware of the trauma that doesnt have a easily out word identifiable manifestation . Absolutely. You are right that some children will demonstrate behavioral laura learning difficulties but many children will not. So many children there are no outward signs yletter number one screening is sosisi importat in california has moved toward universal screening for children and adults. Can you talk about with that screening consist of . The screening consist of the ten criteria in the childhood experience questionnaire that dont include poverty or Community Violence although the screening we are using in california the pediatric adverse life event screening tool does include other social determinants by food and housing insecurity and Community Violence and then the traditional screening for adult adults. So when you look at Food Insecurity is it done through an interview with the child or data comes from other sources . How do you get to that quick. Instead in the primary care home is a questionnaire the family fills out and the way we do in california that we actually say they dont tell us which one only how many so that allows the clinician to rapidly in the very short 15 minute pediatric visit to identify who needs Additional Services and that they can receive those from a social worker. You find the respondents feel stigmatized about being truthful love the environment their child is living in . Is there an embarrassment its much easier than higher disclosure rates. I am out of time. I now recognize. I will yield two minutes to my calling to continue questioning. Thank you. So i am troubled, i understand but the ability to drill down identify is self identification by the parent or guardian is there any verification . So i know this is granular but had to identify those things that are hard to identify quick. We have 80000 primary care providers and in order for those 88002 identify rapidly in primary care thats why we use the screen. Then when that screen shows a family needs more services for whatever reason, then they are referred to someone who can unpack that and that is the verification. Twostep process that allows us to more thoroughly identify. That isd. Done through the primary care provider quick. Yes. Do you match that data with anythingu out of the classroom . If you have one or two risk factors on the social side where the health side, can you aggregate that data . You wouldnt normally think that child is suffering from trauma and by looking at one piece or oned dimension but there is a troubling pattern that tells us. Thats a system we hope to put into place that i look forward in my role as Surgeon General. Thank you for extending the courtesy if anybody had a comment about that aggregating information i would continue to borrow my time left half. I will yield back i appreciate his indulgence. So i have a question forp. You. Where is that coming from . What are the sources . It is childhood abus abuse, neglect and other forms of malpractice and that could be talked about Adverse Childhood Experiences divorce, incarcerated. Are there percentages of that quick. Oklahoma leads with ace scores of two or higher and we know that in schools we feel it is most important to focus on learning. But we cant to learn until we have some of that connection in the other areas addressed. It is also a heavy burden for teacherswe where asking to burden them more and more but instead to see an awareness that is created and that could be as simple as telling a child what to do instead of what not to do with the brain that is in a constant fight or flight mode doesnt know what to do you say stop or quit or they could simply say its time to open our books or take a walk in the hall those are practical examples of tools that teachers can use and they dont have to know a childs history to do that. What protections are you putting in place in terms of privacy how far out do you go . Privacy is very important. Thank you for bringing that up. That has been outside the scope of what we focus on in Public Schools right now and public teachers to make connectionsga regardless of the details that might have occurred. That is a very important first step there is a program right now between Law Enforcement called handle with care and our Law Enforcement knows a child is there and has connected with us cool to let them know to handle with care. I will now recognize ms. Davis for five minutes. Thank you to all of you. This is wellinformed in an inspirational panel. Talking about forces of trauma he mentioned abuse and neglect but one of the issues that had to come up his gun violence and the impact that has on students not the only source but it is one of the sources. Ed had a hearing recently asking the secretary she said that she lacks the authority to tell schools they cannot use federal funding but i am wondering where you feel this comes in to have a show of hands whether or not that is part of the solution to address gun violence. Does anybody feel it is part of theth solution . That is not something we have requested from the department of education for the federal and the state level. We will show that nobody has raised their hands but if you feel that reform can be wert of the solution we know for many students the act can be traumatic for them and the homicide rate between 15 and 24 yearolds is nine times higher than other high Income Countries if we move those reforms . What we talk about is meeting the needs of students early and how that goes unaddressed there are serious implications sewing oklahoma meeting the kids wherever they are early and that is thecu best use of funds and prepare teachers through training. I havee another question speaking to the needs to be more responsive to the teachers. Common sense gun reform is important many times we see acts of violence it is a manifestation of things that have gone unnoticed or missed in a way that i think would be better addressed with the right policies and support in place and one other thing i would like toli add in cps any types of violence we work directly with the families to take an approach even if its a student making a threat online with a Law Enforcement mentality initially i know some have taken that approach why would a student post this information and often times what we find with the few occasions there is something going on that needs to be addressed so we spent time connecting them with the resources or more importantly to follow the student and keep track if they are getting the resources that they need. And thats one of the things we have been pretty proud of we feel good we have a good product in place to address these issue issues. What i want to mention quickly that one of the issues of in oklahoma the teachers can carry a weapon. So very quickly talk about racondary trauma and compassion having put in language is entitled to for social and Emotional Learning , what would it look like if we really did support teachers in this effort to acknowledge it does make a difference . What does that look like for you whats most important thing we can do to address that quick. I will interrupt. Please respond in writing. Now i will recognize the Ranking Member for five minutes. Thank you mister chairman. We know that the family is one of the seven pillars of society. Statistically we know the family has been under severe attack in this nation. In 195093 percent of households both parents were there for those children and today it is 60 percent. I know we have done a lot of studying coming to grips with the problem but are we doing anything as far as reaching these young people to change the cycle . If the cycle continues how does it get better . Do you have anything to offer . Or do we just try to fix what problem we have . Public schools. Again, we are there to serve children who w come with a variety of backgrounds and educators are there to address their academic needs and to recognize we are not able to work on those without first building that connection with rapport and trust with students getting to know families and reaching out to all families is important this builds a Strong School and community so our approach is different now than it was. We need to be more creative how we make those connections and we also recognize its important to have counselors in place as there are needs for academic counseling as well as those who can provide those types of counseling through other community resources. Do you have the flexibility we know are not talking we are limited legally what they can do our share with their students about their Life Experience which i think is one reason why we are losing teachers because they feel they are being observed and criticized at every step and it sounds like actually they are becoming the family. That is very true. Actually we know in oklahoma we are looking to teachers to be family for those put in foster care. Are there limits to what a teacher can share with the student in oklahoma quick. Certainly there are limits. I am not sure exactly how to answer that but we just want teachers to feel supported so they can support students and have more School Counselors is also to coach the teachers and provide that training that many of us are talking about in the classroom setting. So for example are you able to talk about the family and the importance of the familyy unit . Are they allowed to do that quick. And that is paramount and our Agency Recognizes the Family Engagement is key and we are making that a priority. Now when the students leave school what is their feeling toward the family . Do they realize that the cure is to not have children before we get married . And then raise with a set of values that gives them the freedom to do the things to be an amazing family . Do they understand what has to change . May i add something . One of the pieces that is critical about this work is reducing the stigma. That is critical as our recognition for families of understanding all the experiences that parents had their own adversity could be handed down to recognize the key to a stable relationship. I understand. I will start with big picture and wondering if they should be part of the solution like the Womens Health clinic . Yes or no. Yes. Paid family leave. Yes. Affordable childcare. Yes. A real challenge. I appreciate that with prevention. Thank you for your testimony it was very enlightening with that awareness. So to follow up on a couple that was talked about with the immigrant parents kids are afraid to go to school because they dont know if their parents will be there when they get back one young woman who is a High School Student said the first thing she does when she walks into the classroom is figure out where to hide or how to escape so you can understand why they go through so much trauma with the threat of gun violence or immigrant families or trying to get rid of the stigma we want to make sure everybody gets the help they need imaging the lgbtq students often have higher suicide rates with the inability to do well if they feel thatab pressure so schools across the country are doing what they can to support the students but they need extra resources reto support that enrichment grant program. We need to make sure to be a leader to be fully funded and make sure those resources for those students. The 2018 report shows children of color are disproportionately represented among children who have experienced trauma and 61 percent and 51 percent of latino children have at least one Adverse Childhood Experience africanamerican children are disproportionately disciplined but with trauma and early adversity effect these africanamerican native students quick. Although discrimination is not the traditional experience what we understand now is cumulative adversity is what leadsul to the toxic stress response which is what causes the harm the experience of discrimination based on race and sexual origin or other forms of discrimination adds to thecu cumulative diversity for those at greater risk of Mental Health and behavior social risk. Evidence suggests the Opioid Crisis has new challenges with Vulnerable Children in octobe october 2018 congress support the act to address the Opioid Crisis had 15 million but unfortunately that has yet to be funded by what would you do with funding in your School District specifically . Thes resources make a significant difference in chicago i know a lot of times talking about the opioid addiction we focused on other areas and thats what we struggle with that as well we could expand the work we are doing and we do have engagement with mary on pet many parents to show Additional Support to train them that would be helpful to us so more awareness of language to address those issues and the barriers to support. With those that are in recovery . Know but we have prioritized the Health Clinics to provide support to students and people in the community but we dont have a recovery high school. At one anecdote that was meaningful to me was that of the trauma informed practices he would go to school with is good up with his foot up and his teachers would tell him to put it down. Im sorry i yelled back. It would be lovely if we had that perfect family there isnt that definition of a perfect family my own family of origin was plied in my current are two children in their twenties doing well is also flawed. I am distressed by some of the comments i have heard today that almost seems as if that is at the feet of the family i dont think anybody disagrees that is what im hearing from all of you but first one that is aware and i appreciate it. And we all need to understand and know more about it but the second elephant is the funding of these programs. That include supporting teachers that have a very unfortunate position to be counselors and pastors of religious educating students in that issue of secondary trauma. So onn the funding issue it does seem very clear we have work to do to convince my colleagues across the aisle that we have to demand federal funding for these programs so with that in mind i like to ask a couple of questions why everybody should care about providing additional federal funding for this issue. We know there are districts all over the country and my district is seventh in pennsylvania with one severely distressed district and by the way 3000 puerto rican families came into the allentown School District following holland on Hurricane Maria they are citizens. They are immigrants but has contributed to the issues faced a School District that cannot even afford textbook and supplies. We need to do a job of convincing so what i need to know is what federal program or federal funding are most important to support schools to create and sustain Trauma Informed Care quick. Funding to support programs like i talked about earlier was a very powerful and impactful programs they just cannot afford to do this at scale but for trauma informed practices to train all of the teachers and other professionals in the district is extremely helpful in to find those necessary resources to support im sure my other colleagues on the piano would like to answer. Some of the issue of children in the United States getting Mental Health and Treatment Services that they need. How can we better support childrenen who are experiencing aces quick. That is critical for us certainly the screening pieces critical Early Detection. The second piece obviously is the support for the responses including Mental Health care trauma informed systems and another critical pieces the campaign to raise awareness of everyday americans. I am struck by a quote from former president American Family pediatric who had been widely quoted to say Adverse Childhood Experience are the greatest risk facing our nation today and made reference togr that. Also to point out aces dont just happen in low income neighborhoods 70 percent caucasians and collegeeducated all middleclass adults and looking at two thirds of americans, we are seeing that we cannot afford not to do Early Detection and intervention. I will now recognize myself five minutes i ask unanimous consent to submit to the record a letter fromrd an eighth grader who School Campus was destroyed it is with no objection i enter the letter to the record. I do have questions that if i cannot ask please submit written answers for the record. But how have the schools change its policies procedures and practices to align to be with trauma informed quick. To be more inclusive to have those policies to work with Mental Health providers and schoolbased Health Clinics. Io and in the therapy sessions to be able to diagnose and to help in the classroom and that translates into classroom practices. Instead of just saying here you go so what has happened so we are working to be more open to make sure we are communicating along themm lines. So teachers and staff have to do things differently because a change in the policies and procedures and practices quick. Yes using a lot of professional development. And to recognize the science of behaviors and with those scenarios because you do not do your work and then explodes but then talks and says what happened to you before and so just look at different scenarios and how they react. Soen working with teachers for those students that have homework at home. So with manmade Climate Change to devastate those entire communities those that are experiencing ptsd what recommendations do you have for schools for Natural Disasters . I would say again just to reiterate how important it is for all individuals in the educational environment to professional training how to respond to a traumatic situation. Whether it is the result of a Natural Disaster or the result of Community Violence or trauma happening at home. The responses the fundamental shows improving outcomes with relationships and environments to ensure that they all have that training and more than just the knowledge to have those toolss and skills to support children. Thank you. I will have questions of use you can have time to respond i remind my colleagues submission for the hearing record must be submitted within 14 days following the last day of the hearing only a member of the committee or invited witness can be included in the hearing record any documents longer than 50 pages wills be incorporated at length you must provide to the committee within the required timeframe that recognize the link may no longer work now is her into the record 1998 regional adverse cdc from Kaiser Permanente the 2019 report from the gao office for the challenges of supporting children affected by trauma there were a child trauma to sustain those in form schools for researchers at Washington State university and childhood experience and evidencebased practices to support children affected by trauma and with the gun violence and then for excellent education in the American Academy of pediatrics with racism and adolescence and also healthy in School Climates from the Leadership Conference in the American Federation t of teachers through the Community Schools national tieducation Association National association of School Psychologist in support of trauma practices in schools. Again thank you for your participation today it is very valuable members of the committee may have additional questions we ask the witnesses to respond in writing and must in 14 days to receive those responses i remind my colleagues questions must be cobmitted to the clerk within seven days questions must be submitted must be addressed the subject matter of the hearing i now recognize the Ranking Member for his closing statement. Thank you mister chairman and to the witnesses for coming today. I want toclar clarify talking about stigma and shaming them talking about in this culture as we said at the beginning of the hearing the testimony makes it clear that trauma has a detrimental impact on student lives we have heard a lot of statistics about children suffering as ais result and i am amazed at the numbers we are talking about. But the bottom line each of those numbers is a child that needs to be given the attention that they need to succeed inn life to share some interesting information what has undertaken in her state to help the students and one of the reasons i ran for congress is the experience i had in my district which is a great example of children who have experienced trauma and to transform their lives i was proud to be part of a local w movement that created the heritagede academy a school that serves Innercity School kids that had been labeled losers in the public School System and moms have no choice but to send these children to t heritage. They had been given up on by everybody but their mom. One of the key elements they are given a faith based education they come from broken homes to learn their value and worth by loving teachers who are free to share their values so the students can learn thehest truth about wt is right and wrong. They grow up to go to the best schools in georgia and in the nation and i have never seen anything like it. It is a complete miracle one of the reasons i believe families need options in education to help them connect with individuals who care about them and so trauma is not a life sentence. Its not for everybody but there are young people that need this considering what we have learned today about trauma i believe it is even more so. I did share earlier about this book this gentleman experienced everything that you have describeded today in fact his life is a tuppercaseletter trauma and was on death row. He made a covenant with god that if he would let him live hed make a difference. This book. O read it will tell you a lot about what is going on in this culture and what he says needs to be done to turn it around and he has made a covenant to do that in fact now life without parole i would do everything i can to get him pardon to talk about his experiences and the consequences ofpe those. He is an amazing individual. Thank you for being here today to help us to learn more about thisrn issue and i yelled back. Thank you very much. I now recognize my software closing statement. Thank you again for the distinguish witnesses of expert issues that childhood trauma demands our attention to suffer c from trauma without adequate care for the child victims of trauma can become lifelong victims dealing with toxic stress many resort to harsh discipline that not only fails to address their trauma even those that lack the resources and assistance that is why Congress Must invest to ensure that children coping with trauma can go to their schools for support and not further harm students trauma can be prevented to address the office and then to come together to and separation of families at the border and widespread poverty not only for victims ofre trauma but prevent them from becoming in that space to ensure that all children have a chance to reach their full potential thank you very much to all of you for being with us today theres no further questions we are adjourned. [inaudible conversations] on the night of the 26th to be quite honest after it is somewhat anti climactic bragg is ready to fight it out that is the basic argument of denial. No plan no leadership from hitler no gas chambers and that this is all made up by the jews this is just over three and half hours. Subcommittee will come to order. Without objection the chair is authorized to declare a recess at anytime today [inaudible] including for particularly ill children. We have a number of members who are waiting on today and delighted to have them without objection i will wave on [inaudible]
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