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vitalvoices College of Public Service - Spring 2022

Our vitalvoices series serves as a forum to bring scholars and practitioners to speak to students, faculty, alumni and community partners at UHD’s College of Public Service on the most pressing issues of our time. Our guests speak on how their professional experiences and knowledge impacts society as a whole. vitalvoices aims to feature people whose work is interdisciplinary and touches upon the fields of social work, criminal justice and urban education, the three majors in our College of Public Service.

Trauma to Prison Pipeline: The Chapters of My Life

On Wednesday, February 9th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., the Center for Public Service and Community Research welcomes David Garlock, a criminal justice reform advocate.

David Garlock spent nearly 14 years in prison and is now a criminal justice reform advocate. He grew up in a very dysfunctional family. Alcoholism, domestic violence, and poor parenting led to sexual and physical abuse, then murder and years in prison. Mr. Garlock’s story is unique and allows for a deep conversation about the “criminal legal system”, abuse, special populations, reentry, and restorative justice. Come join us to hear this amazing story of resilience and the power of redemption.

Psychological Long COVID: Tackling the Silent Epidemic of Childhood Trauma and Grief: What Every Educator Needs to Know

On Tuesday, February 15th from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., the Center for Public Service and Community Research welcomes Dr. Julie Kaplow, Executive Director of the Trauma and Grief (TAG) Center at The Hackett Center for Mental Health.

The pandemic has led to a silent epidemic of grief, or "psychological long COVID", among youth exposed to pandemic-related losses. In fact, over 25,000 Texas youth have experienced the death of a parent or caregiver due to COVID, with the majority of these losses occurring among Black and Hispanic families.

Many of these families were already facing health disparities, racial traumas, and higher death rates prior to the pandemic, making them even more vulnerable to mental and behavioral health issues.

This presentation, by nationally renowned grief and trauma expert, Dr. Julie Kaplow, will provide an overview of how trauma and grief can impact children and adolescents over time and what parents, educators, and other adults can do to support youth who have experienced trauma and bereavement.

A Superintendent Roundtable

Join us Tuesday, March 1st from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., to hear superintendents from five Houston area school districts (Aldine, Houston, Spring, Spring Branch, & Tomball) speak on the factors, trends, and other forces outside the classroom that decision-makers and thought leaders wrestle with as they shape educational policy and practice.

The superintendents will discuss the issues facing education, specifically in relation to the field of teaching and associated educational positions that support the classroom. Through this event, we hope to provide our students with a larger perspective of the intricacies involved in creating quality schools that meet the distinct needs of our community.

Engaging Families and Communities in the Education Process

On Monday, March 7th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m., The Center for Public Service and Community Research welcomes Dr. Ruth M. Lopez and Dr. Rhoda Freelon, Assistant Professors in the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy in the College of Education at the University of Houston.

In this vitalvoices forum, Dr. Ruth M. Lopez and Dr. Rhoda Freelon will focus on issues relevant to engaging families and communities in the education process. They will also share their approaches to teaching education leadership courses that aim to prepare educators to develop a strong sense of community in their schools and districts in a way that honors the assets of their students and families, particularly those from groups who have historically been disenfranchised in education.

This approach to family engagement is critical in a time of intersecting societal crises—namely the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionally impacted communities of color, and amid heightened instances of racial injustice.

We argue that these events and other inequities impact the local issues and everyday practices of educational leaders in communities, schools, and districts. As a result, educators and other providers should consider these issues to be able to fully engage minoritized families and communities.

Tackling the Silent Epidemic of Childhood Trauma and Grief: What Social Workers and Criminal Justice Professionals Need to Know

On Tuesday, April 12th from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m., the Center for Public Service and Community Research welcomes back Dr. Julie Kaplow, Executive Director of the Trauma and Grief (TAG) Center at The Hackett Center for Mental Health.

Dr. Julie Kaplow returns to speak on how bereavement, which she describes as the silent epidemic manifests in juvenile justice youth. She will speak to specific data/information regarding this population. The pandemic has led to a silent epidemic of grief, or "psychological long COVID", among youth exposed to pandemic-related losses. In fact, over 25,000 Texas youth have experienced the death of a parent or caregiver due to COVID, with the majority of these losses occurring among Black and Hispanic families.

Many of these families were already facing health disparities, racial traumas, and higher death rates prior to the pandemic, making them even more vulnerable to mental and behavioral health issues. This presentation will provide an overview of how trauma and grief can impact children and adolescents over time and what social workers and law enforcement officers can do to support youth who have experienced trauma and bereavement.

Vitalvoices Spring 2022