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Reposted by Lives in the Balance

ICARS - International Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion @againstrestraint.com · 27d

Has your child faced removal, isolation, or seclusion in an English school? Share your story in our anonymous survey. Link in comments. #AgainstRestraint

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Sep 9

“If all we’re doing is teaching schools to deescalate & restrain kids, this problem will be around forever,” said Dr. Ross Greene.

Maine just rolled back regulations on restraint & seclusion.

Read more here, featuring LITB! wgme.com/news/i-team/...

#changethispicture

Maine teachers regain authority to remove students per restraint and seclusion rules

When a student starts to get out of hand in class this school year, teachers in Maine have more authority to remove them.

wgme.com

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 27

Tag a friend who embodies collaboration. 🫂

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 25

Empathy opens every door.

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 23

A new UC Riverside report says forced separation from a caregiver can have lasting consequences for kids in immigrant families.

The report compiled clinical data and community-based trauma research on children & teens across the country.
@kpbssandiego.bsky.social

www.kpbs.org/news/health/...

Immigration enforcement taking serious toll on children’s mental health

A new report co-authored by a UC Riverside child psychologist warns that aggressive immigration enforcement is taking a serious mental health toll on children in immigrant and mixed-status families.

www.kpbs.org

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 21

CPS works best before the storm.

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 18

The findings, compiled in three newly released briefs underscore the urgent need for systemic reform in youth justice practices nationwide. #ChangeThisPicture

@sentencingproject.bsky.social

www.sentencingproject.org/press-releas...

New Data Exposes Deepening Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Youth Justice System Nationwide – The Sentencing Project

Black, Latino, and Tribal youth face alarming rates of confinement as youth incarceration rises for the second year.

www.sentencingproject.org

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 17

Collaboration over compliance.

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 15

Meltdowns are messages.

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 12

When is the best time to preview a special event with your child?

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 7

Kids do well if they can, not if they want.

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 4

We'd love for you to join us on October 21st!

✨Register today! bit.ly/CMHAC25

Flyer for the 2025 Children’s Mental Health Advocacy Conference, hosted by Lives in the Balance. The event is virtual, free, and recorded, taking place on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, from 10AM to 4PM EST. The flyer highlights injustices children face: students with disabilities pushed out of classrooms, LGBTQ+ kids bullied, Black and disabled students harmed by school staff, and immigrant families living in fear. It invites the public to learn about efforts to replace harmful practices with safe, effective supports. Bold text reads “Children’s Rights Are Human Rights.” A large “Register Today” section features a registration link (https://bit.ly/CMHAC25) and QR code. Also includes a note that Lives in the Balance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded by Dr. Ross Greene and powered by donations. The flyer includes black-and-white photos of smiling children and teens, with a clean, professional design in navy, gold, and white.

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 4

Finish this sentence: ‘It’s hard for my student/child to ___ when ___. #ParentingTips #EducatorLife

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Aug 1

There is a bipartisan push in NY to mandate training for police to "prepare" for interactions with autistic folks.

There is a need to interrupt these volatile scenarios. But, we also need to think hard about the path and listen to autistic individuals.

spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-...

Bill would train police for calls involving autism, other disabilities

State Sen. Dean Murray described the bill as a "win-win" in protecting everyone involved.

spectrumlocalnews.com

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Jul 7

Black students with disabilities face 3/4 of harsh school suspensions. And, Diagnoses like ODD become a backdoor to exclusion. #ChangeThisPicture

Partnership, not punishment. @edsource.org

edsource.org/2025/there-a...

COMMENTARY: There are no bad kids: How educators can protect students against harmful diagnoses

As a child psychiatrist, I’ve seen how often Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous children are unfairly mislabeled and misunderstood. One diagnosis keeps showing up in ways that harm these children: opposi...

edsource.org

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Jul 7

MICHIGAN- The investigation revealed that restraint and seclusion were used as a punishment for normal classroom issues.

Parents expect that the schools they entrust with their children do not instead punish their children for having a disability. #ChangeThisPicture

www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justi...

Justice Department Secures Agreement Reforming Michigan School District’s Seclusion and Restraint Practices

Today, the Justice Department announced that it reached an agreement with a Michigan school district to address the discriminatory use of seclusion and restraint against students with disabilities, in...

www.justice.gov

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Jun 2

Are the kids ok?

More experts say social media is fueling anxiety, depression & disconnection in teens.

In our May CPS Podcast, Dr. Ross Greene talks with Dr. Nirav Shah about the crisis—and what comes next.

🎧 Drops June 10
📍Recorded live in Freeport

Promotional graphic for the CPS Podcast episode titled "Are the Kids OK?" featuring Dr. Ross Greene and Dr. Nirav Shah. The design shows the silhouette of a teenage girl looking at a smartphone, with wavy lines in the background suggesting stress or digital noise. Text indicates the episode releases June 10 and is recorded by Freeport Speech. The overall color scheme is calm blue tones.

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · May 9

Safety and compassion prevail in Oklahoma! 🌹

SB 364 is now law - corporal punishment of students with disabilities is BANNED in OK schools.

Thank you to the tireless advocates who saw the bill across the finish line! 🎉

oklahomavoice.com/briefs/oklah...

Oklahoma law now bans corporal punishment for students with disabilities • Oklahoma Voice

A new Oklahoma law prohibits schools from inflicting corporal punishment on students with any type of disability.

oklahomavoice.com

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · May 9

Progress can be slow, but together, we are stronger.

Flashback to 18 months ago and our op-ed in the Oklahoman: bit.ly/4jQs3yL

A light blue booklet titled "Punishment Book" lies on a dark surface, partially covered by a wooden paddle with multiple holes. The scene evokes outdated disciplinary practices in schools.

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · May 2

Cheers to Oklahoma! 🌹

A bill to ban corporal punishment of students with disabilities has finally made it to the Governor's desk.

House✅
Senate✅

Oklahomans - Tell Governor Stitt to sign SB 364 into law at our Action Center!

Hitting isn't helping kids! #changethispicture

▶️ bit.ly/3uSAktc

TAKE ACTION – LIVES IN THE BALANCE

bit.ly

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Apr 30

25K students were hit in U.S. schools in one school year.

Corporal punishment is still used in 14 states.

Black children & students with disabilities are at the greatest risk.

We’ve made progress—but the progress is fragile.

There is no federal ban. We can’t let this slide.

End Corporal Punishment @endcorppun.bsky.social · Apr 30

Today is the International Day to #EndCorporalPunishment

😢Around 1.6 billion children continue to be subjected to violent punishment - in homes, schools and other settings

🚨We call on all govts to urgently prohibit and take concrete action to eliminate corporal punishment

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Apr 29

🚨Massachusetts Action Alert!🚨

Let the State know you don't want to see protections for students eroded - SECLUSION SHOULD STAY BANNED.

Jump over to our Action Center before Friday, May 2nd at 5 PM to submit your comments.

🔗https://livesinthebalance.org/take-action/

Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Apr 24

Krystal Emerson’s son was restrained or secluded at least 18 times in 7 months—in 2nd grade.

Now, Maine lawmakers are considering rolling back protections.

Her message: “It broke me. It broke him.”

#ChangeThisPicture

mainemorningstar.com/2025/04/24/p...

Proposed rollback of restraint and seclusion rules pits staff safety against student rights • Maine Morning Star

When he was in second grade, Krystal Emerson’s son was physically restrained by a staff member or put in a small, isolated room at least 18 times over seven months during the 2023-24 school year at El...

mainemorningstar.com

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Apr 24

"Before the law was passed, schools would sometimes drag students to seclusion rooms without classifying the action as a restraint."

- (our own) Ben Jones, Director of Legal and Policy Initiatives at Lives in the Balance

#ChangeThisPicture with us www.livesinthebalance.org

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Lives in the Balance @livesinthebalance.bsky.social · Apr 24

In 2021, Maine ranked worst for student restraint and held the country's second-highest rate of seclusion.

Then, reform limited R&S.

Now, that progress is at risk.

If we only look to crisis management, we’ll keep repeating history. #ChangeThisPicture

mainemorningstar.com/2025/04/23/l...

Legislation would make it easier to restrain and forcibly move Maine students • Maine Morning Star

Driven by increasing reports of misbehavior, some Maine teachers and administrators want to make it easier for staff to physically restrain students.

mainemorningstar.com

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