Young & Healthy, a Pasadena-based non-profit dedicated to children’s health, is sponsoring a free community screening of the documentary film, Paper Tigers on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at Eliot ARTS Magnet Academy Auditorium in Altadena. The film tells the story of how one school used a trauma informed approach to change the lives of at-risk students. Jim Sporleder, former principal of Lincoln High, featured in the film, will lead a question and answer session following the screening. Educators, those who work with children and anyone else interested are invited to come learn how trauma informed care can make a difference for the children in our community. Tickets are free, but required for entry, and can be obtained by visiting: http://yhpasadena.org/young-healthy-invites-you-to-a-screening-of-paper-tigers/
The future health of our community depends upon everyone’s ability to foster the healthy development of our children and youth. An extensive amount of research on the biology of stress, conducted over the last two decades, has demonstrated that healthy child development can be impeded by over activation of the stress response systems. These stress responses often lead to negative behavior that impacts children and those around them. In response to this public health challenge, and in close collaboration with our colleagues at PUSD and support from Kaiser Permanente, Young & Healthy is committed to creating a healthy community for children and families in the Pasadena area by addressing the negative effects of childhood trauma.
Young & Healthy has already begun to educate teachers, academic administrators, healthcare professionals and many community partners who work with children every day about trauma informed care and how it can assist in working with children who have experienced trauma in their lives. Additional training in mindfulness practices will give those working with children the tools for practicing mindfulness techniques in the classroom. Practicing mindfulness has shown good results in improving executive function, learning, and children’s ability to self-regulate calming behavior.
About Young & Healthy
Young & Healthy, a Pasadena-based 501(c)(3) organization, delivers comprehensive direct health, mental health and dental services to low-income, greater Pasadena school children who are unable to access high-quality health care services due to the unavailability or inadequacy of insurance. Young & Healthy maintains a network of 344 physicians, dentists, mental health care professionals and others who volunteer their services to the program. Young & Healthy’s broad array of health services includes medical care, dental care, mental care, programs related to asthma, pharmacy/lab support, parent enrichment and education, and insurance outreach. Last year, Young & Healthy brokered the delivery of medical, dental and mental health services valued at approximately 1.57 million dollars, free-of-charge, to a total of over 3,400 low-income children. Since 1990, the organization has provided donated professional services valued at $18,388,017 to local children in need. For further information, contact Whitney Harrison, Program Director, at (626) 795-5166.
