Parent Tidbits
January/February Newsletter
Newsletter Contents
- Hot Topics
- Social-Emotional
- Special Education
- FIEP
- Homework Help
- Transition
- Upcoming Parent Training
Hot Topics
Human Trafficking
January is National Human Trafficking Month
The United States Department of Justice generally classified human trafficking into two major categories
- Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is 17 or younger.
- Labor trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtainment of a person through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
Victims can be any age and are trafficked by anyone including family members, extended relatives, friends, spouses and partners, as well as acquaintances and strangers.
The following is a list of Red flags to look for when treating your patients. This list is not exhaustive, and each indicator on its own may not imply a trafficking situation. If several red flags are present, this may point to the need for referrals and further assessment. Red flags may include:
Physical Health
· Frequent treatment of sexually transmitted infections or injuries
- Multiple unwanted pregnancies
- Fractures or burns
- Bruising
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Skin or respiratory problems caused by exposure to agricultural or other chemicals Communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Oral health issues, including broken teeth
- Chronic pain
- Signs of concussions, traumatic brain injuries or unexplained memory loss
- Malnourished
Behavioral Health
- Unwilling to answer questions about their health Unable to concentrate or provide basic information including age, address or time
- Gives confusing or contradicting information
- Abuses substances
- Has depression and anxiety
- Is nervous or avoids eye contact
- Has post-traumatic stress disorder
Other Indicators of Trafficking
- Another person appears to be in control of them and doesn't let them answer questions
- Reports a high number of sexual encounters
- Doesn't have possession of their own identification documents
- Lives in overcrowded areas or at their workplace
- Has tattoos or other branding of ownership
- Wears inappropriate clothing for the weather or venue
What to Do if I Suspect Someone Is a Victim of Trafficking
If you suspect your patient may be a victim of human trafficking, try to find a time and place to speak with the patient privately, especially if they are accompanied by someone who could be their trafficker.
Questions you may want to ask
- Where do you live? Who do you live with? Are you able to come and go as you please, or do you have to be accompanied by someone? Are you free to talk to anyone you want outside of your home or work?
- Do you know where you are right now? How did you get here?
- Do you feel safe at home or with the person who came with you today?
- Has anyone made you do something you didn't want to do?
- Have you been physically threatened or has your family been threatened?
- Have you ever been asked to work in an environment that is unfair, unsafe or dangerous?
If you suspect human trafficking, you can submit an anonymous tip to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. For immediate assistance or to speak directly with a hotline advocate, call 888-373-7888.
For More Information
To get help or report trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline:
- Call: 888-373-7888
- Send a text message: Text HELP to BEFREE (233733)
- By email: help@humantraffickinghotline.org
- Chat online: National Human Trafficking Hotline
For information on training, technical assistance and resources email the Texas Human Trafficking Resource Center at Human_Trafficking@hhsc.state.tx.us.
https://hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/texas-human-trafficking-resource-center
Social Emotional
42 Simple Ways to Raise an Empathetic Kid
Here are 42 simple ways to help us raise empathetic children despite a plugged-in, me-centered culture. These ideas are from my latest book, UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About Me World(Touchstone, June 2016).
1. Talk feelings.
2. Be an emotion coach.
3. Share kind deeds.
4. Make teamwork and caring a priority.
5. Teach: “Always look at the color of the talker’s eyes.”
6. Make kindness matter.
7. Use “Feels + Needs” formula.
8. Start kid book clubs.
9. Point out the impact of uncaring.
10. Use the “2 Kind Rule.” Get kids in the habit of being kind.
11. Develop a caring mindset.
12. Use nouns, not verbs.
13. Focus on character.
14. Model kindness. Want a caring child? Model the behaviors you want your child to adopt.
15. Do five kind acts a day.
16. Make kindness a regular happening.
17. Get kids to reflect on kindness. Instead of always asking, “What did you learn today?” Try: “What’s something kind you did? Or “What’s something nice that someone did for you?”
18. Imagine how the person feels.
19. Share good news.
20. Stress the impact. Help kids see how caring might make others feel.
21. Make kindness a routine.
22. Reduce your MEs and increase your WEs. For instance: What should we do?” “Which would be better for us?” “Let’s take a ‘We’ vote, to do what we choose.”
23. Halt the “parading.
24. Make sure at least half your questions are about your child’s friends.
25. Create a “save, spend, give” system.
26. Make service a family affair. Provide opportunities for your child to experience giving to others in your community.
27. Help your child create a “caring code.” Talk to your child often about the kind of person he wants to become, how he wants to make others feel, and what he stands for.
28. Urge kids to serve. Encourage your kids and friends to start a “Care About Others Club”.
29. Give back frequently.
30. Teach copers. Self-regulation helps keep empathy open so teach your child to use deep, slow breaths (“exhale twice as long as you inhale”) to reduce stress and manage strong emotions at the first sign of stress.
31. Switch sides. Sibling battle or friendship tiff? Ask conflicting parties involved to “reverse sides” and tell you what happened, but from the other’s side to stretch perspective-taking.
32. Be “feeling detectives.” Encourage kids to “investigate” how other people might be feeling.
33. Choose a summer camp that stresses fun. A diverse mix of campers doesn’t hurt either!
34. Set regular “unplugged” times.
35. Hold family movie nights.
37. Find ways to gain a new view.
38. Ask, “How would you feel?” Post questions to help your child think about how she would feel if someone had done the same behavior to her.
39. Use real events.
40. Capture caring moments. Make sure to display prominently photos of your kids engaged in kind and thoughtful endeavors so they recognize that “caring matters.”
41. Use “earshot praise.” Let your kids overhear (without them thinking they’re supposed to) you describing those qualities to others. “I’m so proud of how kind my child is because…”
42. Make a kindness jar.
For more details, follow the link below.
Special Education
Parental Consent
FIEP
http://www.esc4.net/Assets/h-parent-fiep-for-special-educationeditd.pdf
Homework Help
Best Ways for Parents to Help With Homework
As a former elementary principal for over 20 years, finding the best ways for parents to help with homework was a subject that was debated frequently as a staff and also with our parent community. Through a partnership with our local Parent Teacher Association, we first asked the question, “What REALLY does homework entail?” and secondly, “If it’s important, how can parents approach their kids as a resource from home?”
I think back to a book journey that we completed many, many years ago as a PTA to delve into the subject of how, and why, to help children outside the classroom. Life’s Little Instruction Book-Vol. 2, by Jackson Brown, 1993, was one resource we used time and time again. One particular quote stood out during our year-long study. “Do your homework and know your facts, but remember it’s passion that persuades.”
Passion. That really became our focus, and ultimately our drive, as we explored extending learning from school to home and back to school. Kids must sense a need to gather additional learning experiences outside of the classroom and parents are vital toward that extension of learning. It was a team approach to develop that passion.
Marion Diamond exclaimed, in the Magic Trees of the Mind, the brain, with its complex architecture and limitless potential, is a highly plastic, constantly changing entity that is powerfully shaped by our experiences in childhood and throughout life. We examined that knowledge and set the following parameters that are still in place long after I left my position.
- Establish a set time for homework each night. If possible, make the kitchen table the go to place each time. It sends the message that this is important.
- Teachers provide a consistent check list of the day’s learning, however, the students can provide the wording, dialogue or a performance of the day’s events. With this sequential checklist, it is a visual reminder so kids can actively share each night. They are processing prior knowledge and making connections to the classroom.
- Focus on the strengths your child processes. Have them examine why they excel in that area. Do this each day.
- Create an environment that promotes learning. A parent’s enthusiasm for learning (passion) will be a model for your child - even on the hardest of days.
- You don’t have to be an expert on any and all subjects. Be supportive of the classroom teacher. If questions arise over content, call the school to ask for additional information or clarifying points. It is okay to say, “I’m not familiar with a subject,” but follow through so your child knows it is a partnership.
- Finally, if schedules allow, come to school! Even for 15 minutes. The impact of a parent “just being at school” is a focus of pride for every child. The home-school connection in today’s integrated society is vital for on-going learning experiences.
https://www.parenttoolkit.com/academics/news/homework/best-ways-for-parents-to-help-with-homework