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Dr. Isaiah Pickens, clinical psychologist, founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises, facilitates an important discussion with two of his colleagues, Dr. Riana Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, and Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The third and final podcast of this three-part series Historical Trauma Among African Americans, Radical Healing, and Resilience addresses the outstanding resilience demonstrated by black families in the United States during a long history of traumatic events. Practitioners can affirm the resilience of black youth and help youth see the power they have in their own lives and to make change in society.

Thank you to Isaiah Pickens for collaborating with your colleagues and organizing and facilitating the discussion for this series. More about iOpening Enterprises and Dr. Isaiah Pickens, its founder and CEO, can be found here: https://www.iopeningenterprises.com/.

Dr. Isaiah Pickens, clinical psychologist, founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises, facilitates an important discussion with two of his colleagues, Dr. Riana Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, and Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The second podcast of this three-part series Historical Trauma Among African Americans, Radical Healing, and Resilience focuses on a trauma-informed approach and how white allies and others working in solidarity can support black youth and establish trusting relationships.

Thank you to Isaiah Pickens for collaborating with your colleagues and organizing and facilitating the discussion for this series. More about iOpening Enterprises and Dr. Isaiah Pickens, its founder and CEO, can be found here: https://www.iopeningenterprises.com/.

Dr. Isaiah Pickens, clinical psychologist, founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises, facilitates an important discussion with two of his colleagues, Dr. Riana Anderson, Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, and Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The first podcast of this three-part series Historical Trauma Among African Americans, Radical Healing, and Resilience focuses on historical trauma and the pain that is still felt from the past and current day occurrences, white supremacy’s contribution to pain in the black family, and how this pain shows up today for children, clinically, in school, the home, and child welfare settings. 

Thank you to Isaiah Pickens for collaborating with your colleagues and organizing and facilitating the discussion for this series. More about iOpening Enterprises and Dr. Isaiah Pickens, its founder and CEO, can be found here: https://www.iopeningenterprises.com/.

Additional resources on this topic can be found on the FRIENDS website, including Historical Trauma Among African Americans, ACES, and Hope, a podcast that was released in 2019, https://friendsnrc.org/resources/?_sf_s=African

Two Resources mentioned in the three-part series:

EMBRace – Engaging, Managing, and Bonding Through Race is a 5-week program that focuses on racial socialization, racial stress and coping, and family functioning in order to reduce the discriminatory tension we may experience on a daily basis.  Click the link to learn more https://theembraceprogram.wixsite.com/embrace/goals

Our Mental Health Minute seeks to reduce stigma about mental health in the black community and provide resources in access, utilization, and quality of mental health care. Spanning three seasons, more than 30 video and podcast episodes on mental health have been produced. Click here to learn more. https://www.ourmhm.com/

The traumatic history of African Americans, how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) compound multi-generational trauma, and what hope looks like are considered in this podcast.

Three experts from the Centers for Disease Control, the National Child Traumatic Stress Center, NC State University, and a local Head Start Program provide evidenced-based information on ACES, historical trauma and bias, and how hope and resilience play a role in mitigating these hardships in African American families. Listen to learn about adjustments practitioners can make to improve trust and inclusiveness in programs services.

Experts speaking on the podcast:

Melissa Merrick, PhD: Behavioral scientist in the Division of Violence Prevention at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.https://www.cdc.gov/injury/pressroom/fullbios_subjectmatterexperts/bio_MelissaMerrick.html

Isaiah Pickens, PhD: Assistant Director of Service Systems at the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at UCLAhttps://www.isaiahpickens.com/about/ ; Founder, iOpening Enterprises, a mental health and wellness education companyhttp://www.iopeningenterprises.com/

Deric Boston, MSW, LCSW: Senior Lecturer, NC State University School of Social Work; Assistant Director and Mental Health Consultant, Durham County Head Start and Early Head Starthttps://socialwork.news.chass.ncsu.edu/2014/04/26/faculty-highlight-professor-deric-boston/

Resources mentioned in the podcast:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ACE Studyhttps://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html

The Philadelphia ACE Surveyhttp://www.philadelphiaaces.org/philadelphia-ace-survey

U.S. Public Health Service Syphilis Study at Tuskegeehttps://www.cdc.gov/tuskegee/timeline.htmRead more about this study conducted on black men from 1932 until 1973 by the U.S. Public Health Service.

Resources used in the development of the podcast:

African American History Timeline: 1619 – 2008https://friendsnrc.org/wp-content/uploads/african-american-history-timeline.pdf

Spotlight on Culture – Conversations about Historical Trauma: Part Two, Summer 2013. National Child Traumatic Stress Network.Part Two in a series on historical trauma outlines how historical trauma has impacted African Americans who are descendants of enslaved Africans. https://www.nctsn.org/resources/conversations-about-historical-trauma-part-two

Parts One and Three in this series are also available:Part One outlines how historical trauma has impacted American Indian children and families and how services for these children and families should consider not only their present circumstances and personal trauma histories, but also historical trauma.https://www.nctsn.org/resources/conversations-about-historical-trauma-part-one

Part Three explores the experience of survivors of the Jewish Holocaust, the Japanese American WWII camps, and key events affecting Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//spotlight_on_culture_conversations_about_historical_trauma_part_three.pdf

Are We Talking Enough About the Black Middle Class? By Charles Ellison in the April 13, 2015 Pacific Standard. https://psmag.com/news/are-we-talking-enough-about-the-black-middle-class

In this episode, Dr. Paul Lanier has a conversation with Dr. Lindsay Huffhines about unique stressors for families during these difficult times and practical tips parents can use to support infants and toddlers in handling stress and emotions. Parents and caregivers will find this podcast helpful.

Dr. Paul Lanier is the Wallace Kuralt Distinguished Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Lindsay Huffhines is a postdoctoral fellow at Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University

(Originally shared May, 2020)

Experts:

Dr. Paul Lanier

Associate Professor/School of Social Work

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Dr. Lindsay Huffhines

Postdoctoral Fellow, Clinical Psychology  

Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University

Resources: https://jordaninstituteforfamilies.org/ and https://friendsnrc.org/media-library/

https://friendsnrc.org/prevention/protective-factors/

https://newmomhealth.com/

In this episode, Dr. Paul Lanier has a conversation with Julie Smith and Brooklyn Crawford, Clinical Home Visitors, based in eastern North Carolina about challenges families are facing with parenting young children during difficult times. This conversation is followed by one with Maxine Eichner, the Graham Distinguished Professor of Law at University of North Carolina School of Law, about federal policy changes needed to create stronger supportive systems for children and families.

Administrators, other leaders, and advocates for families and children will find this podcast most helpful.

Dr. Paul Lanier is the Wallace Kuralt Distinguished Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

(Originally shared May 2020)

Experts:

Dr. Paul Lanier

Associate Professor, School of Social Work

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Brooklyn Crawford

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Easter Seals Newbern

Child First Clinician

Julie Smith

Licensed Clinician

Child First

Maxine Eichner

Professor of Law,

University of North Carolina School of Law

Resources: https://jordaninstituteforfamilies.org/ and https://friendsnrc.org/media-library/

https://friendsnrc.org/prevention/protective-factors/

The Free-Market Family: How the Market Crushed the American Dream (and How It Can Be Restored) by Maxine Eichner available at Amazon or your bookstore.