I have not had any luck with any responses, so I went to the website http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/ and was intrigued by a section I read about Theresa Betancourt, who is studying and researching the effects of global adversity and working to provide the evidence and research of child soliders in Sierra Leone and children who have lost their families to HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. Her work focused on findings and research of understanding the intergenerational transmission of emotional behavioral disruptions due to war. It amazes me it seems like one person like her, with the right knowledge, resources, and position, can make a difference.
She is also working to provide an intervention for families to use in Rwanda, to help them overcome their negative experiences and adversity, and view life with a sense of hope and knowledge that even though they may have a certain kind of illness, they can still be good parents and care for their children, and be a family. So far, through a pilot intervention, there have been great impacts on the children and families. “There are very few prevention-oriented interventions in global mental health for children,” Betancourt notes. “And doing that work earlier in a preventive model is going to be so much more cost-effective than waiting for [children] to get severely depressed and suicidal, or drop out of school. Then, you’re trying to undo those very severe sorts of consequences.” I can't agree more with her statement. The sooner you fix things and change them for the better, then sooner you will see short term influences and eventually the long term influences of your changes. It's more difficult to go back and try to undo negative impacts.
I believe that Betancourt is definitely onto a great path, helping these children and families overcome adversity and the negative effects of war on these children. I can forsee these interventions also taking place here in the US and other countries, maybe it the forms she has already established, but also in other forms, such as helping military families, families living in poverty, immigrant families, and more.
References:
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/
Good to hear and know about some caring individuals like Theresa Betancourt and others who have devoted their life to help and save children that are facing difficulties. This is the kind of mind and passion we should have as early childhood professionals. We have to make an impact in the lives of the children we come across. We have to cultivate the mind of helping and assisting them in any way we can. Thanks for sharing, Caitlin.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Caitlin :)
ReplyDeleteI've experienced the same luck as you with international connections and found myself researching the same website. I love Ms. Betancourt's passion to serve and heal while impacting lives of deserving families. Definitely an inspiration to me!
Hello Caitlin,
ReplyDeleteSounds like Theresa has a great passion for the work she does. People who operate out of their passion show genuine care and concern for those who are affected by their work. And usually they are the ones who make a positive difference. I am rooting for all of us to get to the place of making a difference in the lives of those we come into contact with daily
I have had the same situation trying to get responses. I have a friend that teaching in Cairo, Egypt. This has been my saving grace. I'm not quite sure why it is so hard to connect with other educators in this field.
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