This Children's Environmental Health Day, mobilize for equitable environmental protection policies that promote kids' health and well-being.

aftvoices.org/aft-leaders-...

Next week: The virtual international Call to Action to Change Child Welfare conference

I'm excited! I'll share educators' perspectives about mandatory reporting + I get to learn with a cohort of @aft.org educators about family resource centers, play & more.

Join us Oct 6-9: CTAconference.org

TIX NOW AVAILABLE for the 10th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference in Albuquerque, NM this coming December! Learn, network & plot movement with the National Farm to School Network.

www.farmtoschool.org/conference

TOMORROW 9/30, 6p EDT - a free, for-credit town hall: Vaccines, Childhood Health and Navigating the School Year

Panelists will talk about community immunity--addressing facts, misinformation and key actions for students’ well-being as we enter SY2025-26

sharemylesson.com/webinars/vac...

Schools are instrumental to success in many domains of kids' lives, including academics and health. Any time anyone gets a shareable illness, there’s a risk it can spread throughout a whole school community.

Kids need up-to-date immunizations or we keep them from missing out on all the things they love to do and need to do to stay on track developmentally.

Back-to-school vaccines help young immune systems develop basic literacy, so it’s able to quickly read the situation if your child comes into contact with a preventable disease. Early literacy means students' immune systems are equipped to respond and resist right away.

In 2024, NYC’s ACF celebrated a success: Reports from schools have decreased by 11%[while] schools have referred >400 families to community-based organizations providing prevention services and other supports.

This is #MandatedSupport in action.

urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

educators often send suspicions of student exposure to illicit substances to child protective services

engaging families is effective prevention (whether or not you discuss drugs)

learn more in a #MandatedSupport research & action brief w/ @healthyschoolscampaign.org

www.aft.org/sites/defaul...

Mental illness is a top concern that prompts educators to report to child protective services

this research & action brief with @mhanational.org looks at early interventions in schools to effectively promote mental health as part of #MandatedSupport

www.aft.org/sites/defaul...

the "Nobody Wins" data also structure programming tools

ex: educators say concerns about kids' emotional development are among the top reasons they report ... so a research and action brief with GWU's Center for Health and Health Care in Schools explores *what works*

www.aft.org/sites/defaul...

in January, I published "Nobody Wins" with insights from >1100 educators' perspectives on mandatory reporting

the data help us better understand (1) what educators need to know; (2) how educators behave--and might change; & (3) policies to change defaults in schools

bit.ly/NobodyWins-T...

DYK: Many educators’ reports to child protective services are not necessary? Educators make almost 1 million CPS reports each year. ~1 in 10 kids are confirmed victims of maltreatment based on those reports. Between those two stats: innumerable opportunities to act as a mandated supporter!