Good morning! ☀️

And happy October! The read of the month is How Democracies Die by Daniel Ziblatt and Steven Levitsky (article here). This is a crucial and important topic, and one which is especially pertinent given what’s happening in Ukraine (and what has happened in other countries when dictators have taken over).

In the book, the authors outline four indicators of authoritarian behavior:

1. Rejection of the democratic rules of the game

2. Denial of the legitimacy of political opponents

3. A toleration or encouragement of violence

4. A readiness to curtail civil liberties of opponents or the media

Check it out and let us know what you think!

News

Social Emotional Learning - The New Target

Social-emotional learning may have taken the place of critical race theory as the new lightning rod for tension and criticism in schools.

Let’s start at the beginning. Social emotional learning (SEL) is a process that helps people develop stronger social and emotional skills. It does this by helping them to develop self-awareness, self-control and interpersonal skills. Research has found evidence that SEL has yielded positive results for communities, including improved access to academic outcomes and behaviors, and long-term outcomes which lead to reduced societal costs such as public assistance and police involvement.

Furthermore, SEL is widespread throughout schools: Every state has incorporated SEL in preschools, and more than half of states have SEL in their standards for Kindergarden through 12th grade.

In the last few years, however, there have been “disputes specifically concerning social-emotional learning in at least 25 states”. The pushback is caused by parents who believe that SEL is connected to critical race theory, a controversial movement and academic framework based on the idea that racism is systemic and interwoven within the very fabric of our system itself.

Is there a connection between SEL and critical race theory? The connection is not direct, but SEL does focus on issues such as identity, racism, and racial justice, which are also covered in critical race theory. These lessons enable students to better understand themselves, different cultures and perspectives, and historical figures.

In conclusion, discussions and debates around SEL, critical race theory, and the overall education of our children will continue to be prevalent across the education system.

Other social work-related news

• The first Center for Human Trafficking Reserach and Training in Mississippi will be created in the University of Southern Mississippi in order to help create better anti-human trafficking policies, legislation, protocols, and victim services

• Incarcerated workers at all of Alabama’s major correctional facilities have begun a general strike and protest of conditions and legislation that organizers believe have created “a humanitarian crisis” within the state prison system

• The GRASP program, run through the Cincinnati Police Department and funded by the Department of Justice, is providing free tracking devices available for Cincinnati families dealing with Alzheimer's, dementia and autism

Reads on research

• From 2015 to 2019, there were widespread increases in depression without commensurate increases in treatment, and in 2020, past 12‒month depression was prevalent among nearly 1 in 10 Americans and almost 1 in 5 adolescents and young adults.

• A new study suggests that Botox injections may help alleviate the symptoms of mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety

Reads on policy

• The EPA announced that it is establishing a new national office charged with advancing environmental justice and civil rights

• The ‘Mandela’ bill would limit solitary confinement in California prisons and jails

• Mental health crisis among Latinos prompts push for accessible treatment and candid conversations

Tech, social work, and cool opportunities 😎

• Cerebral Treated a 17-Year-Old Without His Parents’ Consent. They Found Out the Day He Died.

• The Problem With Mental Health Bots

• LinkedIn Top Startups 2022: The 50 U.S. companies on the rise - There’s a few interesting companies here that are in behavioral health and healthcare

• Perinatal Mental Health Specialist at Pomelo Care, a startup which is building the first at-scale, evidence-based pregnancy and newborn care platform, transforming outcomes for pregnant people and babies

• Mental Health Specialist at Youtube