Arkansas A.W.A.R.E.

Dan Siegel designed this amazing thing called the Window of Tolerance. This concept helps us to visualize and understand what it looks like when we move in and out of regulation and dysregulation; both us and the young people we serve. We all have a Window of Tolerance, we all dance in and out of it, and we all need a bigger one.
 
https://www.drdansiegel.com/

https://www.nicabm.com/trauma-how-to-help-your-clients-understand-their-window-of-tolerance/

http://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/divisions/learning-services/school-health-services/school-based-mental-health

The WSCC model from the CDC

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

SBMH in Arkansas
Betsy and Nicole talk about what School-Based Mental Health looks like in the state of Arkansas. Our strengths, our areas to improve, and how we’re moving forward.

Visit the SBMH webpage to explore and learn more

The WSCC model from the CDC

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Betsy interviews Susan Jobe, G.U.I.D.E. For Life Specialist and host of the G.U.I.D.E. For Life podcast. They discuss teacher resilience, self care and how A.W.A.R.E. and G.U.I.D.E. For Life complement each other.

Here is some information from the G.U.I.D.E. For Life website to familiarize yourself with the program:

"All Arkansas students should graduate with a strong foundation of academic knowledge, experience, and proficiencies. To be successful, students also need an equally strong foundation of soft skills – those intangible abilities that help people get along with others, communicate well, and make positive contributions in the workplace and beyond.

The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education has identified five guiding principles that support educators, business leaders, communities, and students in their efforts to help all Arkansans develop these critical skills. The principles represent skills needed to thrive at home, school, on the job, and in the community: Growth (manage yourself). Understanding (know yourself). Interaction (build relationships). Decisions (make responsible choices), Empathy (be aware of others).

The G.U.I.D.E. for Life program, with the support of Arkansas counselors and educators, is designed to give K-12 students a plan – a five-step process – that they can follow to achieve personal success. Each principle is summarized in easy-to-understand key words, with three action points to explain the idea. By incorporating the G.U.I.D.E. for Life concepts throughout the school experience, we can help instill these “real-world” skills for success in all Arkansas students. The result? Well-rounded citizens, stronger communities, and more effective employees."

Thank you Susan for being part of our show!!!!

Listen to the G.U.I.D.E. For Life podcast

On Apple Podcasts

Use #guideforlife on practically every podcast platform.

G.U.I.D.E. For Life website

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Employee Wellness Strategies – School-Led Panel Presentation

During this session, participants will hear from a panel of Arkansas educators focused on innovative strategies to promote self-care for faculty. By utilizing the tools already available, panelists will detail simple strategies they incorporate throughout their daily routine to promote mindfulness and ensure better care for themselves. In addition, unique school-wide approaches will be discussed that may be implemented within any building.

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Betsy and Nicole are joined by special guest Dr. Stacy Moore to discuss grief, the grieving process and coping with grief in a school environment.

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Betsy and Nicole have spent a lot of time so far encouraging you toward empathy, understanding and self-care. Now we’re going to talk about self-care from a completely different angle.

Defensive dehumanization.

Wow. That sounds terrible! It sounds like something we should be fighting against. It’s true,
dehumanizing people is a step towards things like slavery, murder, violence or genocide. In order to wipe out a people group, drop a bomb, or fight in a war, you have to dehumanize your opponents.
What’s interesting is that empathy is actually a part of creating space for dehumanizing a person or
people group. It is because I have such great empathy and love for my family that I might be willing to kill someone who breaks into my house and harms my child or spouse. In that moment it is my
tremendous empathy that leads me to dehumanize the intruder.

Tricky right???

You 2.0: The Empathy Gym

Social Connection Enables Dehumanization

Why We Fight

Why Doctors Should Be More Empathetic--But Not Too Much More

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

Mirror mirror on the wall – who’s the fairest of them all. Fair. Like nice. Like approachable and safe. Did you know kids are looking for that? The kids with several ACEs under their belt – they’re experts, professionals, when it comes to looking for this.
Lots of kids who have been through a traumatic experience, or persistent adversity, are uniquely attuned to the non-verbals of people around them. This makes sense because the stress response hormones allow them to be on high alert so they can mitigate risk and respond quickly to threats.
That’s not true for all kids. Some kids who have several ACEs tend to shut down, zone out and protect themselves by essentially hiding in plain sight. For them it feels safer to not notice, not get overwhelmed by the risk possibilities, not make their presence known.
But either way – they are highly attuned to the non-verbals. They are what we might call hyper vigilant. Ready for action, to fight, run, or play dead, at any moment.
Have you heard of mirror neurons? This is fascinating stuff. Some researchers claim that mirror neurons are what makes us human. Dr. Ramachandran calls them the “basis of civilization.” He has a great TED talk about mirror neurons. What does this have to do with hypervigilance? Well – let’s explore that.

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E


https://www.ted.com/talks/vs_ramachandran_the_neurons_that_shaped_civilization

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/daniel-h-pink-shares-why-choral-singing-benefits-health-like-exercise.html

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

In the our last episode (Soldiering Through), Betsy and Nicole talked about what happens in our bodies when adrenaline is released. We enter into a state we often call "fight, flight or freeze."
In this episode, we take a look at what happens when cortisol is released. Nadine-Burke Harris does such a good job of explaining this in "The Deepest Well" (referenced in episode 2 "ACES".)

Cortisol is released during a traumatic event but it serves a longer-term function too. It keeps us safe by keeping us on alert. Lighter sleep, blood pressure rises and more blood sugar is available for energy in case a crisis is just around the corner. Cortisol is attributed to the craving for high-fat, high-sugar foods. We need to be ready for a crisis. Our bodies get ready regardless of whether that crisis is a massive food shortage or extreme emotional pain. Your immune system also gets cranked up.

But when this is chronic, it all goes south. This state of being was not intended to be chronic. The biological stress of it can lead to obesity, heart problems, auto-immune disorders, and depression and anxiety. High cortisol levels have a role in weight gain! Fatigue! Brain fog! Even difficulty healing after a cold or from an infection!

Sound familiar????

TED talk on ACES by Nadine Burke-Harris

Shop for "The Deepest Well" online

Fostering Resilient Learners website

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

We don’t learn when we’re stressed.

We simply can’t (biologically) take in new information. Let’s walk through the biological process of a stress response. Sometimes called fight, flight or freeze. A danger presents itself and our bodies begin to respond even before we have conscious thoughts about the danger. Adrenaline is released and our heart starts racing, breathing increases as our airways open. You feel like you could toss a mountain out of the way. You have been biologically prepared to run, to fight, or to fake dead! We morph into a being whose only focus is survival.

Survive at all costs......a process that can also become toxic. Join Betsy and Nicole as they discuss risks related to "soldiering through" traumatic situations.

The Neuroscience Behind Stress and Learning By Judy Willis

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts

This episode is titled "Quick Fixes", however, it has also been affectionately referred to as "Nicole's RANT!"

Nicole:
"Okay – I hate the idea of providing quick fixes. When we started this podcast, our team sat around the table and talked about what the format might look like. We looked at a draft and the 2 educators in the room said we needed to end each podcast with a couple of quick techniques or interventions that they could try. Like here’s a simple quick intervention you can use today. Here’s a magic wand that’ll make everything better. Let me loan you my MAGIC WAND!?!!!!?!

I worry that these are pie crust promises – easily made, easily broken."

Strap yourself in tight listeners.....Nicole is on a roll!

More info on A Culture of Safety

Arkansas A.W.A.R.E. website

Produced by Donnie Lee
Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
More information: https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/communications/dese-podcasts