2021 September HOPE Newsletter As the summer comes to an end, we reflect back on the month of August and look forward to what is ahead for the fall. In August, we all met in-person for the first time to talk about the future of HOPE and the direction of our expanding growth. HOPE also had the amazing opportunity to present at the Transforming Our Tomorrow: 2021 Prevent Child Abuse America Virtual Conference (PCAA), where the HOPE team held two presentations . We have also gained support for...

Dr. Bob Sege, 4/15/21, positiveexperience.org/blog On April 9, the HOPE National Resource Center hosted our first annual summit. This year’s theme was Spreading HOPE, and among rich discussions on HOPE in various sectors, we celebrated the growing recognition of our work around the country. Over three hundred people participated from across the U.S. and five other countries, from the health, education, child welfare, and public health sectors, including front-line providers and senior...

By Dr. Robert Sege, 9/16/20, positiveexperience.org/blog This past spring, we began blogging about ways to look at the world from a child’s eyes, in order to make sure they’re having the positive childhood experiences that they need to grow and be healthy, even in the face of disruption and adversity. In the six months or so that we have been experiencing the pandemic, the HOPE team has seen and heard many stories from around the country of families that are doing just that. Now, as the...

Dr. Robert Sege, 7/29/20, positiveexperience.org/blog In times and places when Covid-19 is on the upsurge, most of us worry about our own safety and that of the ones we love. Is it a safe to go to work? It is safe for children to go to school? When will the pandemic and this uncertainty ever stop? At other times, public health restrictions are first in our minds—we can’t gather to celebrate or mourn, we need to wear masks to protect others even if we don’t feel sick ourselves, and every...

Dr. Robert Sege, 6/4/20, positiveexperience.org Today’s blog is a brief addendum to our blog from Tuesday, June 2, “HOPE Stands with Black Lives Matter.” First of all, thank you very much for the kind words and comments we received by email and phone since the blog was posted. For your interest: this blog has been co-posted at both ACEs connection and the Center for Study of Social Policy websites. HOPE is not alone. We want to draw attention to related activities of our national...

On May 13, 2020, I was interviewed for PBS NewsHour and had a chance to bring HOPE to the discussion about child maltreatment during the pandemic. Have a look – all the way to the end – and don’t forget to laugh! [Please click here to read more.]

By Dr. Robert Sege, 5/13/20, from positiveexperience.org/blog Note: The image above was provided by Artists for Humanity , a nonprofit organization of teen artists and designers which HOPE is currently working with. This picture was taken before the Covid-19 pandemic, and we encourage social distancing/public health requirements. It’s easy to focus on the negative now that we are two months into the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, we turn our attention to some of the Positive Childhood Experiences...

By Dr. Robert Sege, 5/7/20, positiveexperience.org Today’s blog is coming from the perspective of Dr. Bob, the pediatrician. Over the past couple of weeks, I have been working with a wonderful team from the American Academy of Pediatrics to develop information for pediatricians around the country. Our goal is to draw pediatricians’ attention to concerns of a possible increase in unreported child abuse during the pandemic. Although child abuse reports are dramatically lower, there are many...

By Dr. Robert Sege, positiveexperience.org, April 23, 2020 A lot has happened in the month since we first published “ Love in the Time of Coronavirus ” in this blog space. We are now publishing regularly and have featured the perspectives of Drs. David Willis , Danielle Laraque-Arena , Heather Forkey, and Moira Szilagyi . We have also established our own community at ACEs Connection , and post contributions there frequently. Visit our blog to read all posts, our publications page for media...

Today's blog is reposted from https: positiveexperience.org/blog/ Link there for the hyperlinks, and for other in this series. Having safe, stable, and equitable environments to live, learn and play forms the second of the 4 Building Blocks of HOPE. Children need homes where they feel safe and secure and have their basic needs met. Children thrive in an environment that encourages curiosity and provides opportunities for learning to play and interact with other children. Today’s blog is...

How can we reduce ACEs and toxic stress during the COVID-19 pandemic? Many of us are concerned that increased stress might increase the risk for ACEs. For example, most child abuse happens when adults reach their breaking point. However, we are not powerless in the face of these challenges. HOPE - Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences - is a natural fit for ACES Connection, We invite you to join our new Balancing ACES with HOPE community . Let us know how you think HOPE about HOPE and...

As children grow and develop, engaging with the larger community around them provides a sense of “mattering” — a sense that their participation in the community really does matter. The emergency conditions now in effect provide numerous opportunities to children and teens to pitch in. Here are a few ideas . . .

This has been quite a week, and we are now facing major disruptions in our own family lives. There is no doubt that the events of this winter and spring will be memorable for children. In that spirit, here are a few ideas to help make those memories (at least somewhat) happy.