Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Ruff justice: Meet the dogs helping put child rapists behind bars

    A practice in Johannesburg is making the courtroom and trial process less scary for sexually abused children by letting them play the role of court officials alongside therapy dogs in a pretend court. The Teddy Bear Foundation, responsible for this role play activity, wants children to be less scared but also prepared for their day in court when it comes.

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  • Rock-a-Bye Mama

    Past and present traumas can make it difficult for new mothers to bond with their babies. A program at Carnegie Hall uses songwriting and music to support mothers in this process in prisons, intensive care units, high schools, and other places.

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  • To Confront Effects of Trauma, Start with Self Care

    Building resilience and self-care into daily life promotes long-term wellbeing. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Catalyst Initiative works to support the emotional and mental wellbeing of underserved groups by promoting culturally relevant approaches to self-care. Catalyst funds organizations that serve Indigenous communities, communities of color, as well as other programs that encourage people to practice mindfulness and self-care as a way to heal from trauma and stress associated with economic, personal, or social issues.

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  • Therapy dog a game-changer at Pleasant Street School

    Elementary schools in New Hampshire are introducing pet therapy to better serve their students who are experiencing emotional distress. In one school, the therapy dog acts as "a reward for good behavior, a transition to talking about what happened that made a child misbehave, a way-station for calming and resetting surging emotions, and a bridge for shy youngsters who become animated when speaking to a non-judgmental pet."

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  • NYC: Where the Police Offer a Free Art Class Instead of Prosecution

    Since 2015, Project Reset has diverted potential criminal cases to programs that change behaviors without imposing punishment or staining people's records with criminal convictions. Art classes, behavioral therapy, and restorative dialogue have made 16- and 17-year-olds in the program significantly less likely to commit new offenses, while 98% of those admitted to the program have completed it. Offered in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx, the program helped the Manhattan district attorney nearly cut in half the number of prosecutions of low-level misdemeanors and violations.

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  • Treating chronic pain

    Chronic pain patients often rely on opioids for pain management, but this can lead to addiction. A specialized practice in Seattle is addressing this concern through the Structured Functional Restoration Program that focuses on nervous system regulation as a way of addressing other ways to manage pain.

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  • How a theatre ensemble helps people with dementia

    A theater company in Germany is using specially-designed plays to help improve the emotional state of those with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The carefully selected ensemble uses period pieces, music, and audience interaction as a way to increase engagement and has seen individuals respond to this methodology.

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  • At This Camp, Children Of Opioid Addicts Learn To Cope And Laugh

    Building connections and learning to cope can help to break the inter-generational cycle of addiction. The nonprofit Eluna operates a camp in Dayton, Ohio, for children whose families have been ravaged by addiction. In addition to receiving the support of adult mentors, the children also engage in activities designed to teach them skills to manage their emotions. With funding from government subventions and private donations, Eluna plans to open several more camps nationwide.

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  • The Art of Surviving

    Producing art restores dignity and a sense of purpose to victims of violence who suffer from disability and chronic pain. In New York City, the Open Doors collective empowers patients at hospitals like the Coler Specialty Health Center on Roosevelt Island, encouraging them too engage in community theater, poetry, music, graphic design, and other projects. The approach of contemplative care aims to help the shooting survivors cope with their pain through artistic expression.

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  • What follows punishment?

    Minnesota’s Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) program takes a restorative, rehabilitative approach to sex offender re-entry and has lowered the risk of recidivism by 88%. The initiative provides participants with a group of volunteers that help them with emotional support, job finding, and challenge and shift the attitudes and behaviors that led to the committed crime. The rise of the #metoo movement has given way to the complexity of sexual assault, restorative justice, and rehabilitation – making programs like CoSA both more necessary and challenging to sustain.

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