Episode 14

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Published on:

27th Jan 2021

Achieving Racial Equity in Massachusetts: The Dynamic Duo Is on a Mission!

ACHIEVING RACIAL EQUITY IN MASSACHUSETTS: THE DYNAMIC DUO IS ON A MISSION!

Today, I am joined by Audrey Smolkin and Thula Sibanda. Audrey is the Director of Child and Family Policy at the UMass Medical School. She is responsible for identifying, developing, overseeing the management of new programs, research, and evidence-based policy initiatives all related to children and families. And as part of her job, she is partnering with organizations and individuals from throughout the state to help improve services. Her current focus is on trauma, particularly racial trauma, and the long term negative impacts on the trauma of youth. 

Also joining me is Thula Sibanda. She is the coordinator of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) in Massachusetts. Thula’s focus is on the oversight and implementation of the JDAI initiative in Massachusetts. It seeks to improve or reimagine a juvenile justice system that is anti-racist and developmentally appropriate and ensures that the right youth is in the right place for the right reasons. 

In this episode, we unveil the magic of this dynamic duo of Audrey and Thula as they embark on an incredible mission to provide racial equity training to providers, families, community leaders throughout the entire state of Massachusetts. 

What You'll Learn

  • What is racial trauma and the long term negative impacts on the trauma of youth.
  • Racial equity programs and training available to providers, families, community leaders across the entire state of Massachusetts. 
  • Tips on how you can take part in ending racism.
  • And much more!

Favorite Quote (38:51) 

“Find out what your why is. And you hold on to that for dear life because that will get you through whatever challenges you face, whatever struggles you face.”

-Thula Sibanda 

For More Information: 

Audrey Smolkin, MPP

Director,Child and Family Policy, Instructor, Dept. of Pediatrics, UMass Medical School

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About the Podcast

The Optimistic Advocate
Making a difference in advocating for better mental health services for children and families
Hello, and welcome to the Optimistic Advocate! The Podcast that brings you just a bit closer to recognizing your full potential as an advocate for change – yours, mine, and everyone's! I’m your host, Scott, Bryant-Comstock, and I’m CEO and founder of the Children’s Mental Health Network. For the past 40 years, my journey as a mental health advocate has traveled from volunteering at a suicide and crisis center, professional roles as a therapist in an outpatient clinic, in-home family therapist, state mental health official, Board Chair for a county mental health program, and national reviewer of children’s mental health systems reform efforts. As the founder of the Children’s Mental Health Network (2009), I lead the Network’s efforts to grow a national online forum for the exchange of ideas on how to continually improve children’s mental health research, policy, and practice.

This podcast features conversations with inspiring advocates who help individuals and families make positive changes in their lives and communities across the globe. The episodes typically run from 45 – 60 minutes in length, so give yourself some room to breathe and get inspired when you listen to these. Who knows this could be the gamechanger that will unleash the advocate in you. You won’t regret it!

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About your host

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Scott Bryant-Comstock

For the past 40 years, my journey as a mental health advocate has spanned working at a suicide and crisis center, as a therapist in an outpatient clinic, an in-home family therapist, a state mental health official, Board Chair for a county mental health program, and a national reviewer of children's mental health systems reform efforts. As the founder of the Children's Mental Health Network (2009), I lead the Network's efforts to grow a national online forum for the exchange of ideas on how to continually improve children's mental health research, policy, and practice. Through it all, I remain optimistic that the voice of advocates can, and will, be heard. We need strong advocates now, more than ever!

If you're like most of my listeners, you're committed to making significant contributions to your work and seeing sustainable change. But it's not easy–you know it, and I know it. Let's face it - it's downright hard! My passion is helping to shape policy and practice in children's mental health, and my mission is to introduce you to innovative efforts taking place across the nation that are making a difference in the lives of children and families.