THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL SUPPORTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

THAT'S COMING UP.

FIRST THIS WEEK WE ARE NEARING THE END OF SUMMER ON GOLFING OF BALTIMORE'S NETWORK OF PUBLIC COURSES.

JOINING US IS TOM PIERCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ST CLASSIC FIVE GOLF COURSES.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HOW HAS THE SUMMER BEEN FROM A GOLFER'S PERSPECTIVE AND ONE ANSWER TO THAT IT'S BEEN HOT WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS, RIGHT?

>> YES, BUT IT'S BEEN VERY GOOD.

ANYBODY THAT LIVES IN THE BALTIMORE AREA EXPECTS IN THE SUMMER WE WILL HAVE HEAT AND THE CHANCE OF AN AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORM PASSING BY.

GOLFERS ARE USED TO THAT AND THEY WORK AROUND IT.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD SEASON.

IT STARTED OFF GOOD IN APRIL AND MAY.

IT WAS DRYER THAN NORMAL.

AND HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE PLAYING BUT IT'S BEEN A GOOD SUMMER SO FAR.

>> Jeff: THE COURSE LOOKS PERFECT GREEN BEHIND YOU.

HOW DO THE FIVE COURSES LOOK?

>> THEY LOOK GREAT.

I WOULD SAY THAT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, THEY PROBABLY LOOK BETTER THAN THEY NORMALLY DO.

BUT ALSO WEATHER HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE.

IT'S BEEN WET IN AUGUST TO RECENT YEARS THAT HELPED TREMENDOUSLY.

AND OUR SUPERINTENDENTS DO A GREAT JOB AS WE WATER AND KEEP CARE OF THE GOLF COURSES BUT THE COURSES WE ARE GETTING COMPLIMENTS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THEY ARE IN GREAT SHAPE.

>> Jeff: BACK TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE OF THIS I READ NATIONALLY THE ROUNDS BEING PLAYED AROUND THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN UP GETTING BACK TO ALMOST WHERE IT WAS COUPLE DECADES AGO IN THE TILINGER WOODS BOOM.

ARE YOU SEEING THAT?

>> YES, WE ARE.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW WHEN GOLF WAS DOWN FROM, SAY, 2008, 2007 TO 19, WE SAW THAT THE MILLENNIAL GOLFERS WERE NOT PLAYING AT THE SAME PERCENTAGE.

AND BEFORE COVID WE STARTED TO SEE THAT INCREASE.

AND AFTER COVID WE'VE SEEM IT CONTINUE.

WE FEEL THAT THE MILLENNIALS ARE PLAYING IN DROVES LIKE THE OTHER GENERATIONS WITH THEM BEING THE LARGEST GENERATION HAS BEEN A BOOM TO THE GOLF INDUSTRY AROUND THE COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: THE HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC FIVE IS DECADES AGO, MAYER SHAVER GAVE CONTROL OF THE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSES TAKING IT AWAY FROM REC AND PARKS WHICH HAS OTHER STUFF TO WORRY ABOUT.

AND CREATING THIS NEW ENTITY WITH A PUBLIC MISSION.

HOW DO YOU SEE THAT MISSION?

>> THAT MISSION, I THINK IT IS A GREAT MISSION.

WE ACTUALLY WERE FORMED THERE WAS A COMMITTEE THAT SHAVER FORMED WITH BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS TO LOOK WHAT THEY COULD DO, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THE COURSES WERE LOSING MONEY THEN.

IT IS A CHALLENGE FOR A GOVERNMENT ENTITY TO WORK AND MANAGE GOLF COURSES GOLF IS WEATHER DEPENDENT.

PLANNING IT'S NOT SIX MONTHS IT'S NOT A YEAR IT'S LIKE TWO WEEKS, THREE DAYS DEPENDINGS ON THE WEATHER.

IT BECAME CHALLENGING FOR THEM TO DO.

AND THEY LOOKED AT MANY DIFFERENT AVENUES HOW TO MANAGE THE GOLF COURSES AND IT WAS DECIDED BY THE COMMITTEE TO FORM A NONPROFIT TO MANAGE THE COURSES.

SO BASICALLY, YOU HAVE AN ENTITY THAT WORK WITH THE CITY THAT IS ABLE TO WORK LIKE A BUSINESS.

AND DEAL WITH THE GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT THAT CAN BE EVER CHANGING FROM DAY-TO-DAY.

>> Jeff: YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO FURTHER THE PUBLIC MISSION PARTICULARLY WITH GETTING YOUNG PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH GOLF.

TELL US ABOUT THAT?

>> WE HAVE MANY PROGRAMS THAT WE WORK WITH.

FIRST WE DO WORK WITH THE FIRST TEE OF BALTIMORE AT ALL OF OUR COURSES.

IT IS A GREAT NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT TAKES GOLF INTO SCHOOLS AND DOES PROGRAMS AT COURSES.

AND WE HAVE OUR WHAT WE CALL THE BALTIMORE GOLF ACADEMY WHICH WE HAVE PROGRAMS AT EACH OF THE COURSES.

WE HAVE A LOT AT PINE RIDGE THEY HAVE A FULL FLIGHT DRIVING RANGE.

WHERE WE DO CAMPS, CLINICS WE DO A PGA GOLF LEAGUE.

WE DO A GIRLS GOLF AND PARTNER WITH NUMBER OF HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE AREA WHERE THEY EITHER PLAY MATCHES AT OUR COURSES THEY MIGHT PRACTICE.

WE'RE ALSO TALKING WITH COPPEN STATE IS STARTING A GOLF TEAM AND WE HAVE BEEN IN TALKS WITH THEM.

WE WOULD LOVE EVERYBODY TO GET INTO THE GAME AND WE TRY TO ACCOMMODATE AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

>> Jeff: YOU'VE GONE HIGH TECH AT ONE OF YOUR RANGES IS THAT A REACTION TO THE TOP GOLF THING EVERYBODY'S SEEN THAT DRIVING BY DOWNTOWN.

IS THAT GOOD OR BAD FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

>> FOR US IT'S BEEN GOOD AT PINE RIDGE.

WE HAVE THE TOP TRACER TOP GOLF LIGHT WHERE IT'S GOT SOME OF THE PROGRAMS WITH THE FULL FLIGHT BALLS AT PINE RIDGE.

PEOPLE CAN PLAY GAMES THEY CAN PLAY COURSES AND PLAY PEBBLE BEACH YOU CANNOT PUTT.

THEY CAN DO INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS THEY CAN PRACTICE WITH OUR CLUBS.

WE'VE SEEN SINCE WE HAVE DONE THAT PROGRAM A NICE INCREASE AT THE RANGE AND WE DID A TEST.

WE HAD PEOPLE PAYING FOR IT AND DECIDED TO INCLUDE IT IN AND WE SAW IT BOOM THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE COMING AND HITTING BALLS.

WE FEEL THE GOLFING PUBLIC ENJOYS USING IT WHETHER IT'S FUN OR IMPROVE THEIR GAME.

>> Jeff: TELL US ABOUT BRUSHES WITH GOLF GREATNESS ON ANY OF YOUR COURSES OVER THE DECADES?

I KNOW ARNOLD PALMER WON A CHAMPIONSHIP HERE?

>> YES.

HE WON THE EASTERN OPEN IN THE 50s.

I FORGET THE YEAR AND THERE IS A STORY THAT ARNOLD ON THE FIRST DAY ON THE FIRST HOLE PUT HIS FIRST TWO TEE SHOTS INTO HILLEN ROAD AND TOLD HIS PARTNERS HE WAS PROBABLY GOING TO QUIT HE WAS NOT PLAYING WELL AND I DON'T KNOW WHO HIS PARTNER WAS HE SAID YOU ARE THE BEST PERSON HERE AND HE WON BY A NUMBER OF STROKES THAT SUNDAY.

AND THAT WAS HIS THIRD POLICE OFFICERRAL PRURN.

HE WON EARLY IN HIS CAREER.

>> Jeff: COME BACK TO THE PUBLIC MISSION.

YOU WERE IN CHARGE OF A GOOD PERCENTAGE.

OPEN SPACE IN BALTIMORE WHICH IS IMPORTANT AND EVERYTHING YOU PUT DOWN ON THIS GOLF COURSE IS GOING TO DRAIN INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP BAY I'M -- CHESAPEAKE BAY AND WEED KILLER AND FERTILIZER HOW CHALLENGING IS THAT FOR YOUR SUPERINTENDENTS?

>> WELL, WE FOLLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT ALL OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS ARE LICENSED THROUGH THEM LIKE EVERY OTHER DPOFL COURSE IN THE STATE AND THEY HAVE A PROGRAM WE FOLLOW.

WHAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO PUT DOWN AND WHAT WE'RE NOT AND THEY AUDIT OUR GOLF COURSES EVERY YEAR.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MUCH OF A CHALLENGE BECAUSE WE'RE GIVEN THE GUIDELINES WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO AND WE FOLLOW THEM TO THE TEE.

ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MENTIONED ON THE ENVIRONMENT ONE OF OUR COURSES FOREST PARK, A COUPLE YEARS INTO A PROGRAM WE'RE GOING TO BREAK GROUND WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES GRANT OF $3 MILLION BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH RUNOFF THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT RUNS THROUGH THE GOLF COURSE THROUGH THE STREAM, AND INTO THE BAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE CREATING COLLECTION PONDS TO COLLECT THE BAD STUFF LET IT SINK TO THE BOTTOM AND RELEASE THE WATER SO THE WATER THAT RUNS THROUGH THE COURSE AND WE'RE WORKING WITH AN ENGINEERING FIRM IT'S MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER FROM THE STORMS CAUSING THIS CHALLENGE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT UP.

AND WE WILL BE BREAKING GROUND IN NOVEMBER AND BE DONE BY THE SPRING THAT WAY WE CAN KEEP THE GOLF COURSES GREEN AS POSSIBLE WHILE WORKING WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AS WE ARE IN THE URBAN AREA, IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE.

>> Jeff: GUESSING THAT OUR METRO AREA DOES PRETTY WELL IF YOU ARE LOOKING AROUND THE COUNTRY AT AVAILABILITY OF GOOD QUALITY PUBLIC GOLF COURSES.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REGION AND MAYBE YOUR PET COMPLETING PUBLIC COURSES WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> THEY ARE RUN WELL AND THEY ARE IN GREAT SHAPE ALSO.

THE GOLFING COMMUNITY IS STRONG IN THE BALTIMORE AREA.

I AM FROM THE PHILADELPHIA AREA AND THEY ALSO HAVE STRONG PUBLIC COURSES.

WE ARE BLESSED ON THIS PART OF THE EAST COAST THAT THE GOLFING COMMUNITY IS A STRONG COMMUNITY AND ALSO THE COURSES.

SOME ARE LIKE OURS ARE OLDER.

BUT STILL MAINTAINED VERY WELL.

AND THE GOLFING PUBLIC LOVES PLAYING ON THEM.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES OF RUNNING THE PLACE ON A DAILY BASIS?

I'M THINKING WHEN IT'S CROWDED, PACE OF PLAY?

SOME PEOPLE PLAY FASTER SOME PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE A CART SOME MIGHT BE CARRYING A BAG.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

>> WHAT WE'VE DONE A COUPLE YEARS AGO IT USED TO BE THE COURSES FOUR YEARS AGO WERE 8-MINUTE TEE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE WOULD TEE OFF AND WE MOVE TO DO TO 10 MINUTES.

YOU LOSE TEE TIME BUT WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT HELPS THE PACE.

WE'VE ALSO IT TRAINED OUR STARTERS TO NOT LET SOMEBODY TEE OFF BEFORE THEIR TIME.

SO THAT MEANING IF A GROUP TEES OFF AT 10 AND THEY HIT THEIR BALLS IN THE FAIRWAY AT 10:05 THE NEXT GROUP COULD HIT.

IT GIVES THEM THE FULL 10-MINUTE SPACE AND THAT IS GREAT.

OUR TEE TIMES ARE OVER FOUR HOURS AT THE COURSES ON THE BUSY DAYS AND PEOPLE THAT WALK AND THEY ALWAYS WALK ON GOLF COURSE THEY CAN PLAY FASTER THAN SOMEBODY IN THE GOLF CART.

YOU DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY ELSE DRIVING TO THEIR BALL.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WALK IN THE MORNINGS IN OUR COURSES THAT THEY COULD PROBABLY PLAY LIKE MOUNT PLEASANT IN 3 HOURS AND 35 MINUTES.

>> Jeff: LET'S SAY SOMEBODY IS WATCHING MAYBE THEY ARE WATCHING AND THEY HAVE NOT PLAYED GOLF FOR A DECADE OR TWO.

THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT GOING OUT AND PLAYING TOO SLOWLY AND GETTING BOOED OFF THE COURSE.

BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC COURSES PROBABLY A GOOD PLACE TO PICK IT UP AGAIN OR PICK IT UP FOR THE FIRST TIME?

>> YES, TOTALLY.

FIRST THEY WON'T BE BOOED OFF THE COURSES IF THEY ARE LOOKING WEBSITE, CLASSIC FIVE GOLF.COM WE DO ADULT CLINICS.

THERE'S BEEN STUDIES BY THE PGA AND THE LPGA THAT THEY FOUND THAT PEOPLE GETTING INTO THE GAME OR GETTING BACK DOING CLINICS WITH OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE THEY FEEL I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DOES THIS.

WHEN THEY SEE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES THEY SLICE THE BALL THEY HOOK THE BALL THEY TOP THE BALL YOU CAN GET THE INSTRUCTION THE COST-EFFECTIVE AND GET BACK INTO THE GAME.

FIRST THE DRIVING RAGE ESPECIALLY AT PINE RIDGE AND GET THEM ON THE COURSE WE DO THAT LATER IN THE AFTERNOONS IT'S NOT AS BUSY.

THAT COMFORT LEVEL MOST PEOPLE FIND THEY FEEL THEY WILL HOLD EVERYBODY UP.

TRUST ME SOMEBODY THAT SHOOTS PAR GOLF SOMEBODY CAN SHOOT 100 THEY CAN PLAY IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME IF YOU ARE MOVING PROPERLY AND READY GOLF.

>> Jeff: AND IF YOU DON'T MIND GIVING UP ON LOST GOLF BALLS?

>> LOST GOLF BALLS MY MOTHER GOD BLESS HER SOUL IT USED TO DRIVE ME CRAZY SHE WOULD HIT IT 100 YARDS AND IT WAS DEAD STRAIGHT AND I COULD HIT IT FURTHER BUT I WAS LOOKING FOR BALLS IN THE WOODS.

IF YOU KEEP IT IN THE FAIRWAY THEY ARE THERE FOR YOU.

>> TOM PIERCE TOM, WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> THANK YOU IT'S BEEN GREAT.

>> Jeff: AND JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH ARE KAY CONNORS A SOCIAL WORKER AT THE VOTERSTY OF MARYLAND CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND AIJAH GOODWIN A CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGIST WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT MENTALLY HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS.

KAY, WHAT SORT OF ENVIRONMENTS ARE WE HOPING FOR FOR EVERY CHILD AND WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO AVOID?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, JEFF IT'S REALLY EXCITING TO BE HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUE, Dr.

GOODWIN.

WE ARE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT THREE THINGS THAT REALLY ARE ESSENTIAL TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH.

AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO ALSO HAVING A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR.

SO WHEN SCHOOLS CAN FOCUS ON REDUCING SIGNIFICANT SOURCES OF STRESS IN CHILDREN'S LIVES, BY REALLY CREATING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS, THAT REALLY SETS KIDS UP FOR SUCCESS.

BUT IT ALSO SETS THEIR BRAIN INTO A STATE WHERE THEY ARE READY TO LEARN.

AND THEN THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS.

WHICH IS THE EXCITING PART OF SCHOOL BUT IT'S ALSO THE PART THAT CAN MAKE YOU NERVOUS.

SO HAVING YOUR BRAIN KIND OF IN THAT ZONE, WHERE YOU ARE READY TO LEARN, IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

NOT JUST TO SUCCESS IN SCHOOL BUT IT'S ACTUALLY IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE THIRD AREA IS CREATING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

BOTH WITH TEACHERS AND OTHER KIDS AND STUDENTS.

AND THAT REALLY HELPS YOU HAVE A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF AS WELL.

AGAIN, CRITICAL TO CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON THIS HAVING WORKED IN SCHOOLS AS WELL AS ACADEMIC MEDICINE?

>> YES.

YES.

THANK YOU GLAD TO BE HERE.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT AS KAY SAID TO REALLY CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SAFE FOR YOUTH.

AND THINKING ABOUT THE BEST WAYS TO CREATE THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT, ESPECIALLY WITHIN CLASSROOMS AND WITHIN THE LARGER SCHOOL BUILDING OVERALL.

AND TURNING MORE PUNITIVE PRACTICES INTO MORE RESTORATIVE PRACTICES.

HAVING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS EVEN WHEN CHILDREN GET IN TROUBLE INSTEAD OF HAVING LIKE TIME OUT CORNER LIKE A CALM DOWN CORNER OR A TRUSTED PLACE FOR KIDS TO GO TO TALK ABOUT THE CONCERNS THAT ARE GOING ON, IS DEFINITELY REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.

>> Jeff: SO WHAT DEGREE DO YOU THINK THOSE PRACTICES ARE IMPLEMENTED?

IT'S EASY TO HAVE A TIME-OUT CORNER, GO SIT OVER THERE FOR A WHILE.

AND SOMETHING MORE RESTORATIVE MIGHT BE MORE LABOR INTENSIVE, RIGHT?

>> SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IT COULD BE MORE LABOR INTENSIVE IN THE MOMENT.

BUT IT'S MORE HELPFUL IN THE LONG-TERM.

HAVING THOSE SAFE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENTS IT'S DEFINITELY REDUCING STRESS AND HAVING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE CHILD'S MENTAL HEALTH AND SOME OF THOSE PUNITIVE PRACTICES REALLY COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE HARMFUL OR NOT TEACHING THE CHILD WHAT THEY NEED TO LEARN IN THAT MOMENT OF STRESS AND IN THAT MOMENT OF KIND OF LIKE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS.

SO IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE IN PRACTICE.

BUT I THINK WITH TIME, IT DEFINITELY PAYS OFF.

>> Jeff: WHAT AGE GROUPS ARE WE MOST FOCUSED ON?

AND WHOSE IDEA WAS A PHRASE OF A SUCCESS BACKPACK?

>> WELL, REALLY THESE STRATEGIES ARE FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.

AND THE MORE YOU CAN GET THESE ROUTINES INTO SCHOOLS PARTICULARLY EARLY ON IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL YEARS, THEN AS KIDS RETURN EACH YEAR AND REESTABLISH THEMSELVES IN THE NEW CLASSROOM WITH THE NEW TEACHER, WITH THE NEW SET OF THINGS TO LEARN, THEY CAN FALL BACK ON THOSE ROUTINES AND START TO MANAGE THOSE CALM DOWN PRACTICES THEMSELVES.

AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY SHOWS GROWTH IN CHILDREN THAT THEY BECOME -- THEY HAVE AGENCY TO KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO RESET THEIR CLOCKS.

>> Jeff: IF YOU COULD HAVE A FEW MINUTES WITH EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KID IN THE STATE, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

FROM A KID'S PERSPECTIVE WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW?

>> I THINK A LOT OF KIDS WANT TO BE LISTENED TO.

A LOT OF THE TIMES, THERE'S THIS CULTURE, I GUESS, SOMETIMES WHERE THE ADULTS ARE ALWAYS RIGHT.

AND SOMETIMES THAT'S TRUE AND SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.

I WORK WITH A LOT OF CHILDREN WHO JUST WANT TO BE LISTENED TO.

AND SOMETIMES YOU ARE SO IN THE ROUTINE OF ALL OF THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO AND UNDERSTANDING THAT EVERYBODY IS BUSY, BUT LIKE JUST SITTING DOWN AND ACTUALLY UNDERSTANDING WHAT IS GOING ON WHERE THEY ARE COMING FROM.

A LOT OF THE KIDS ARE BRINGING IN EXTERNAL STRESSES INTO THE SCHOOL SO IT MAKES IT REALLY HARD TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM.

AND SOMETIMES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE THEY DON'T HAVE THE WORDS YET TO SAY I'M SAD BECAUSE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

OR DON'T HAVE LIKE THE DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS TO BRING THAT TO YOU WITHOUT YOU CREATING THAT SAFE SPACE.

>> Jeff: THAT IS A HUGE CHALLENGE.

I MEAN THINKING ABOUT EDUCATORS WHO HAVE SO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE WE WERE TALKING THE OTHER DAY THERE IS A NEW MATH INSTRUCTION SYSTEM AND THEY HAVE ALL THESE KIDS AND THEY DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM AND THEY PLAY MULTIPLE ROLES IN THE CLASSROOM.

DO WE DEVOTE ENOUGH ATTENTION TO SCHOOLTEACHERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BEYOND A TEACHING CERTIFICATE IN TERMS OF LOOKING AFTER THE KIDS' MENTAL HEALTH?

>> HERE AT THE UNIVERSITY AND REALLY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MY COLLEAGUE Dr.

GOODWIN AND OTHERS LEAD EFFORTS TO REALLY FOCUS ON SUPPORTING AND GETTING TOOLS INTO THE HANDS OF TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS.

AND, I THINK, EVERYONE HAS THE SAME GOAL IN MIND, WHICH IS WE NEED EACH TEACHER BECAUSE THEY ARE UNIQUE WE NEED EACH KID IN A CLASSROOM BECAUSE THEY ARE UNIQUE AND THE KIDS ARE MORE THAN THE SUM OF THEIR GRADES OR THEIR SPORTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT IF WE CAN CREATE SPACES FOR KIDS TO TRY NEW THINGS, TO HAVE WHAT WE CALL A GROWTH MINDSET, SO THAT KIDS ARE NOT SO FOCUSED ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENT BUT INSTEAD ARE FOCUSED ON THE JUST THE JOY OF LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.

THAT REALLY TAKES SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF AND IT LETS EACH KID BRING THEIR SKILL TO THE CLASSROOM: I THINK IT ALLOWS TEACHERS TOO.

>> Jeff: DOCTOR, PLEASE?

>> SORRY.

THINKING ABOUT TEACHERS AND JUST PROMOTING TEACHER WELL-BEING AND INVESTING AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE IN SCHOOLS AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOLS SO THAT WAY THE ONUS IS NOT JUST ON THE TEACHER.

BUT YOU UNDERSTAND THEY ALREADY HAVE A LOT TO DO.

BUT THE MORE ACCESSIBLE WE MAKE THOSE ANCILLARY SUPPORTS SOCIAL WORK AND OUTSIDE COUNSELING AND INTERNAL COUNSELING AND EVEN JUST LIKE PEER SUPPORT STAFF ANYBODY ELSE IN THE BUILDING CAN ALSO SERVE AS THE SAFE SUPPORTIVE ROLE MODELS FOR THE KIDS.

>> Jeff: I WILL ASK BOTH OF YOU TO WEIGH ON THIS.

WHAT DO YOU WANT PARENTS TO KNOW SO THAT THEY CAN BE AS ATTUNED AS POSSIBLE TO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR KIDS AND WHAT SHOULD THEY KNOW ABOUT THE BEST WAY FOR THEM TO HELP?

MAYBE YOU KNOW IT'S LIKE STANDARD ISSUE PLAYGROUND DISPUTES OR SOMETHING AS A PARENT YOU THINK I CAN'T FIX THIS ONE?

>> YES.

I WILL START WITH THE PARENTS ROLE IN THE SCHOOL AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO KAY.

PARENTS CAN BE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE SCHOOLS.

I THINK THE MORE THEY GET INVOLVED THE MORE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT AND THE MORE THEY CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK TO THE BEST WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS.

ANOTHER WAY AROUND THE SCHOOLS HAVE TO CREATE THE SPACE FOR THE PARENTS AS WELL.

>> Jeff: KAY?

>> YES, I AGREE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK REALLY HELPING PARENTS BUILD THAT TRUST WITH THE TEACHER AND THE ADMINISTRATOR SO THAT THEY CAN THEN TRUST IN THEIR KID AND LET THEIR KID TRY SOMETHING NEW EVEN FUMBLE ALONG THE WAY.

SO THAT THEIR KIDS CAN OWN THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

>> Jeff: ARE KIDS DEALING WITH MORE ANXIETY THESE DAYS THAN WHEN I WAS YOUNG?

AND HOW MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE CELLPHONE ERA?

>> YEAH, THOSE ARE TWO GOOD POINTS.

RESEARCH SHOWS THERE IS AN INCREASE IN CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS MOSTLY ANXIETY RELATED.

AND SOME OF IT DOES CORRELATE WITH THE RISE IN CELLPHONES.

AND SOME OF IT ALSO CORRELATES WITH THE COVID TIME.

SO DURING THOSE TIMES WHERE KIDS WERE REALLY MISSING THOSE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN THOSE DEVELOPMENTAL SKILLS RELATED TO SOCIAL SKILLS, THEY REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WOULD HAVE HAD OR MY KIDS WOULD HAVE HAD.

I THINK WE HAVE TO PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION SETUP CLASSROOMS WHERE THERE'S MORE CHANCES FOR KIDS TO CATCH UP ON THOSE SOCIAL SKILLS.

>> Jeff: TELL ME ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF HAVING A TRUSTED ADULT AT SCHOOL?

AND I MENTION THAT IS GENERALLY FOR YOUNGER GRADES THE HOMEROOM TEACHER.

AND ON DAY ONE YOU PROBABLY DON'T HAVE THAT?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT DEPENDS.

IT DEPENDS ON THE AGE.

SOMETIMES, I THINK, THERE ARE IT MIGHT BE HARDER IN HIGH SCHOOL RANGE WHERE IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN CONNECT WITH.

BUT IT'S THE OPPORTUNITIES.

I'VE SEEN SOME SCHOOLS INTENTIONALLY DEVELOP LIKE MODELS OR LIKE PEER MODELING OR THE SENIOR SUPERMODELS OR SUPPORTS THE FRESHMEN OR YOU HAVE LIKE A TRUSTED ADULT PROGRAM IN YOUR SCHOOL SO HELPING TO CREATE THOSE SYSTEMS OR ENVIRONMENTS.

AND THEN SOMETIMES SOME KIDS GET IT AS A PART OF THEIR ACCOMMODATIONS IN SCHOOL.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOLS TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT CREATING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THE BEST WAY THAT THEY CAN.

ESPECIALLY FOR THE KIDS THAT ARE SHIER THAT WON'T GO OUT AND SEEK OUT THE TRUSTED ADULTS SO SOMEONE BEING ABLE TO COME TO THEM OR ORGANIZING A PROGRAM WHERE IT IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF THE STUDENTS REGARDLESS OF LIKE HOW SOCIALLY IN-DEPTH YOU ARE IS IMPORTANT.

>> I LOVE THAT IDEA OF THOSE INTENTIONAL PATHWAYS THAT THE DOCTOR MENTIONED AND THAT IS ALSO WHAT THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN US ABOUT CHILD RESILIENCE IS THAT IT'S THE CHILDREN THAT ARE RESILIENT AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE GONE THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES, THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT AT LEAST ONE TRUSTED ADULT IS WHAT REALLY HELPS THEM GET THROUGH THOSE TIMES.

>> Jeff: HOW ABOUT ANOTHER COUPLE OF TRUSTED KIDS?

I MEAN THE IDEA OF FORMING IT CAN BE LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS YOU ARE FORMING AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.

ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR PARENTS TO SHARE WITH THEIR KIDS ON HOW YOU OVERCOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD AND FIND YOUR GROUP?

>> YEAH.

TRUSTING YOUR KIDS THAT THEY CAN WORK THOSE THINGS OUT AND GIVE THEM THE SPACE TO WORK IT OUT.

THE RESEARCH SHOWS THAT KIDS NEED TWO TO THREE CLOSE FRIENDS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE OTHER CIRCLES OF FRIENDS OTHER PEOPLE THEY ARE FRIENDS WITH AND DO STUFF WITH BUT HAVING THOSE REAL HEART TO HEART TALKS WITH TWO TO THREE FOLKS.

SO GIVING THEM SPACE FOR THAT.

NURTURING THAT AT HOME.

AND EVEN IN THE SCHOOL SETTING AS WELL.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO KAY CONNORS SOCIAL WORKER UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.

AND AIJAH GOODWIN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGIST WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS FRIDAY AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION" AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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