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♪♪ >>> EVERY DAY IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH.

MY MAMA TAUGHT ME THAT WITHOUT EVEN SAYING IT.

THIS IS "CHAT BOX," I'M DAVID CRUZ, AND WE'RE MARKING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF WOMEN TODAY, IN THIS CASE, SHAPING NEW JERSEY'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

JOINING US TODAY ARE POWER PLAYERS IN THEIR CIRCLES AND BEYOND, BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, REPRESENTS THE 12th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.

SHE'S THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO REPRESENT NEW JERSEY IN CONGRESS.

HOLLY IS A REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR REPRESENTING DISTRICT 39 IN BERGEN AND PASAIC COUNTIES.

SHE'S THE SENATE REPUBLICAN DEPUTY CONFERENCE LEADER, AND SENATOR TERESA RUIZ IS A DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR REPRESENTING THE 29th DISTRICT IN ESSEX.

SHE'S ALSO THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

WELCOME BACK TO "CHAT BOX."

YOU'RE ALL VETERANS OF ELECTED OFFICE.

I WONDER HOW MUCH YOU STOP TO THINK TODAY HOW THE WORLD OF WOMEN HAS CHANGED IN POLITICS SINCE YOU STARTED OUT.

CONGRESSWOMAN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

IS THERE SOMETHING YOU REMEMBER FROM YOUR EARLIEST DAYS THAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

>> THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP.

I'M HERE WITH TWO LEADERS IN THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW AND WHEN I WAS THERE, THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE TWO.

NOW THERE ARE MANY MORE, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT COMMITTEE HEADS AS WELL.

BUT EVEN IN CONGRESS, THERE WERE SO MANY MORE WOMEN IN CONGRESS, AND I THINK THAT IF ANYTHING, WE OWE THIS TO ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE WOMEN'S -- AMERICAN WOMEN'S POLITICAL VENTURES WITH DEBBIE WALSH, ET CETERA, INTENTIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING US TO THE TABLE AND TO SHOW US THAT WE CAN AND WE SHOULD SERVE IN THESE RESPECTIVE POSITIONS.

SO YEAH, THERE'S JUST A LOT MORE OF US AND THAT IS A GOOD THING FOR THIS COUNTRY AND FOR THE STATE.

>> SENATOR SCHEPISI, WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN OVER YOUR CAREER AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT HAS CHANGED IN NEW JERSEY AS IT PERTAINS TO WOMEN IN POLITICS?

>> ACTUALLY, EVEN FOR MYSELF, UP UNTIL I BECAME SENATOR A YEAR AGO, IT'S AMAZING TO SAY IN 2021-2022, AT THE TIME I CAME IN, I DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF FEMALE REPUBLICANS IN THE SENATE, AND I'M THE VERY FIRST WOMAN TO EVER BE A SENATOR IN THE DISTRICT THAT I'M REPRESENTING.

WE HAVE MADE TREMENDOUS STRIDES IN SEEING ADDITIONAL WOMEN GET INVOLVED, BUT WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO, AND INCREASING NUMBERS, AND THERE ARE SO MANY BRIGHT, TALENTED WOMEN WHO KIND OF STOOD OUT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO JUGGLE THE BALANCE BETWEEN WORK-LIFE, HAVING CHILDREN, BEING INVOLVED IN POLITICS, AND SOME OF THE BARRIERS TO ENTRY, MANY OF OUR COUNTY COMMITTEES, MANY OF OUR POLITICAL LEADERSHIP HAD HISTORICALLY BEEN MEN.

AND SO I THINK A LOT OF WOMEN WERE INTIMIDATED TO EVEN GET INVOLVED.

AND WE'RE SLOWLY STARTING TO SEE THAT GO TO THE WAYSIDE AS WOMEN SUCH AS MYSELF, CONGRESSMAN WATSON-COLEMAN, AND SENATOR RUIZ STARTING TO GET INTO THE LEADERSHIP ROLES AND BE MENTORS FOR OTHER WOMEN WHO WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND MAY HAVE FELT AN APPREHENSION IN DOING SO.

>> SENATOR RUIZ, YOU'RE A MOM.

IN FACT, ALL OF YOU ARE MOMS.

HAS THE TRADITIONAL ROLE OF WOMEN AS HOMEMAKER AND KEEPER OF THE HOME, HAS THAT IMPACTED -- I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S IMPACTED OVER THE YEARS, BUT DO YOU SEE IT CHANGING AT ALL?

>> SO, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION TO ASK ME, BECAUSE THE REASON WHY I ALWAYS SAY THAT I'M A FEMINIST AS STRONG AS I AM WAS BECAUSE OF MY DAD.

PUERTO RICAN MAN WHO WOULD COME HOME AND WOULD COOK, CLEAN, VACUUM, WHATEVER IT TOOK BECAUSE HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO ENTER THE HOUSEHOLD, SO I SAW HIM ALREADY BREAKING DOWN THOSE GENDER ROLES AT AN EARLY AGE IN LIFE, AND SO FOR ME, IT WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAT THOSE PREDISPOSITIONS OF WHAT WAS EXPECTED AS A HOMEMAKER AND A CARETAKER TO BE PRIMARILY SET AS WOMEN WERE FAR REMOVED EARLY ON.

ALTHOUGH, AS YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS DOING, BUT HE WAS SETTING A HUGE EXAMPLE FOR MY SISTER AND I.

LOOK, I THINK WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS IN OUR SPACES, PARTICULARLY A BILL THAT I KNOW SENATOR SCHEPISI AT THE TIME MAY HAVE STILL BEEN IN THE ASSEMBLY, AND WE SIGNED INTO OFFICE AND THAT WAS THE ABILITY TO USE CAMPAIGN FUNDS TO RUN FOR OFFICE SPECIFICALLY FOR CHILD CARE PURPOSES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A NETWORK OF SUPPORT SYSTEMS OR YOU'RE NOT RESOURCED, COULD BE AN OBSTACLE AND EVEN ATTEMPTING TO SAY, AM I GOING TO RUN FOR OFFICE?

>> CONGRESSWOMAN, THE HOUSE HAS A WORLD FAMOUS FEMALE SPEAKER IN NANCY PELOSI, AND WOMEN HAVE MADE STRIDES IN CONGRESS, AS YOU SAID.

BUT RIGHT NOW, AROUND A QUARTER OF CONGRESS IS FEMALE, BUT AS YOU KNOW, WOMEN ARE 50% OF THE POPULATION.

ARE WE EVER GOING TO SEE A CONGRESS THAT IS 50% WOMEN?

>> IF WE CONTINUE TO WORK HARD AND TO ORGANIZE AND TO EDUCATE.

I THINK THAT WOMEN ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO ANY ELECTED OFFICE, ANY INSTITUTION.

I THINK THE KIND OF SCHISM BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THOUGH, HAS SORT OF BLURRED OUR DESIRE AND NEED TO BE INVOLVED AND THE ORIGINAL REASONS FOR OUR BEING INVOLVED.

BECAUSE WE WERE LESS CONCERNED WITH PARTY LABELS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, MORE CONCERNED WITH ISSUES.

BUT AS WE SEE THE PARTISANSHIP ESCALATE, PARTICULARLY IN CONGRESS, HOPEFULLY NOT SO MUCH IN OUR STATE LEGISLATURE, YOU ALL STILL GET A LOT OF THINGS DONE TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT WE DO A DISSERVICE BY SAYING, YOU KNOW, WELL, I WANT TO BE THERE BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN AND THE ISSUES OF BODY AUTONOMY AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE ARE WHAT ARE IMPORTANT, AND I'M GOING TO STAND UP FOR THOSE ISSUES.

BUT I REMEMBER WHEN TERESA WAS PREGNANT, SO WE ALL HAD TO HELP HER.

AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT SHE WAS OKAY AND FEELING WELL ENOUGH TO BE THERE IN PLACE DURING VOTING SESSIONS.

>> AND WHAT I CAN ADD TO THAT, DAVID, IS THAT THE SAD THING IS THAT I'M THE ONLY WOMAN IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE SENATE TO HAVE GIVEN BIRTH WHILE IN ELECTED OFFICE, WHICH SPEAKS TO HOW FEW OF US HAVE BEEN IN THOSE SPACES AND WHAT AGE DEMOGRAPHIC WE'RE COMING INTO THAT SPACE.

MAYBE AFTER WE'VE RAISED A FAMILY, DECIDING TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

IT'S QUITE DIFFERENT IN THE ASSEMBLY BECAUSE A LOT OF WOMEN HAVE BRACED THAT ASSEMBLY FLOOR WHILE BRINGING LIFE INTO SPACE, BUT IN THE SENATE, I.E., YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN THE LONE STANDING INDIVIDUAL TO DO THAT.

>> SENATORS, THE NUMBER IN NEW JERSEY IS AROUND 38% WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE.

SAME QUESTION TO BOTH OF YOU.

LET'S START WITH YOU, SENATOR SCHEPISI.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, AND GOING TO SENATOR RUIZ'S COMMENT, WHEN I GOT SWORN INTO THE ASSEMBLY, I ACTUALLY WAS CARRYING MY 5-MONTH-OLD SON.

I RAN TWO WEEKS AFTER I HAD GIVEN BIRTH.

AND IT WAS A WILD EXPERIENCE, AND I THINK A LOT HAS CHANGED.

HE'S NOW 10.

BUT I RECALL SOME OF THE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO SAID, I CAN'T BELIEVE A MOTHER WITH A BRAND-NEW BABY WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE, AND YOU KNOW, WE GET A LOT OF THAT SORT OF NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, AND MEANWHILE, THE VERY SAME PEOPLE WHO WOULD BE, LIKE, OH, HOW'S SHE GOING TO DO THIS WITH BALANCING A FAMILY, WOULD THEN LOOK AT ME AND GO, I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE'S BRINGING HER CHILD TO THESE EVENTS.

SO, IT'S BEEN QUITE A DECADE IN RAISING CHILDREN AND HAVING THEM PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS WITH ME.

AS TO WOMEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE SAW IN THE PAST ELECTION FOR NEW JERSEY A LOT OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN CAME INTO THE ASSEMBLY.

AND IT WAS REALLY NICE TO SEE WHERE I THINK THAT WOMEN HAVE DIFFERENT SENSIBILITIES IN THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE, AND DO HAVE THE CAPACITY, YES, WOMEN'S ISSUES ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT I THINK THE FINANCIAL ISSUES IMPACTING ON WOMEN AS THEY ARE CO-EQUAL BRANCH IN THEIR HOUSEHOLDS HAVE BECOME EVEN A MORE PRESSING THING.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER IN A BIPARTISAN FASHION TO TRY TO PUT FORTH A MORE FRIENDLY ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES IN NEW JERSEY.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW, THAT'S A NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AND IT'S WHAT IS ACTUALLY HAVING WOMEN GET INVOLVED WHO MAY HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED BEFOREHAND.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN AN ERA WHERE IT LOOKS AS IF THE ABORTION RIGHTS AFFORDED BY ROE V. WADE ARE LIKELY TO BE TAKEN AWAY.

WHAT IMPACT DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE NATIONALLY, AND WHAT ROLE ARE YOU PREPARED TO TAKE TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RIGHTS CONTINUE IF YOU THINK THEY SHOULD?

LET'S START WITH YOU, CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> WELL, I THINK I'M -- MY POSITION ON THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN QUITE CLEAR AND QUITE CONSISTENT, THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN.

WOMEN OUGHT TO HAVE AGENCY OVER THEMSELVES.

THEY OUGHT TO HAVE AUTONOMY OVER THEMSELVES, AND I BELIEVE THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE HAD SORT OF MORE COMPATIBILITY WITH WOMEN IRRESPECTIVE OF WHAT THEIR PARTY ALIGNMENTS WERE AROUND THIS ISSUE.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT THIS -- THIS AGENCY OVER THEMSELVES IS DEFINITELY IN JEOPARDY WITH THIS SUPREME COURT AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT CONGRESS HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO CODIFY AS MUCH AS IT CAN, ROE V. WADE.

NOW, WE DID THAT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WE NEED TO DO THAT IN THE SENATE.

AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT IN THE SENATE, WE NEED THE SENATE TO RECOGNIZE THAT IT NEEDS TO ADAPT TO MORE UPDATED STANDARDS AND RULES TO PLAY BY.

>> LET'S HEAR FROM THE REPUBLICAN ON OUR PANEL.

NEW JERSEY, OF COURSE, HAS CODIFIED ABORTION RIGHTS INTO THE CONSTITUTION HERE.

BUT SENATOR SCHEPISI, YOUR PARTY -- YOU'RE THE EXCEPTION AS OPPOSED TO THE RULE THERE.

YOU ARE ALSO PRO-CHOICE FOR LACK OF A BETTER DESCRIPTION, YEAH?

>> I AM.

>> HOW DO YOU BRING YOUR PARTY ALONG?

>> I DON'T BELIEVE ROE V. WADE SHOULD BE OVERTURNED.

I THINK THAT SOME OF THE LIMITATIONS IN TEXAS AND OTHER STATES IS GOING TO DISPROPORTIONATELY NEGATIVELY IMPACT WOMEN WHO MAY BE IN LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC, WHO DON'T HAVE ACCESS, DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY.

IF YOU'RE WEALTHY AND LIVE IN TEXAS, YOU'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO BE ABLE TO GET WHATEVER PROCEDURE IT IS THAT YOU MAY NEED FOR YOU, YOURSELF, YOUR CHILD, AND I THINK THAT IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE EXTREME MEASURES ARE BEING PASSED, BECAUSE I DO THINK IT WILL HAVE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES ON THOSE WHO DON'T -- WHO AREN'T ABLE TO AFFORD OTHER OPTIONS.

SO, IT'S A -- IT'S A DIFFICULT CONVERSATION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REPUBLICAN ARE EXTRAORDINARILY PRO-LIFE, TO AN EXTENT WHERE, YOU KNOW, I STRUGGLED WITH FERTILITY.

MY SON WAS IN VITRO.

UNDER SOME OF THESE LAWS, MY SON, WHO'S A MIRACLE, WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE HERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I COME FROM IT FROM A MUCH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE THAN SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES DO.

>> EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN, EQUAL PAYDAY WAS JUST THIS WEEK.

SENATOR RUIZ, WOMEN MAKE 83 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR IN GENERAL VERSUS MEN, AND FOR LATINAS, AS YOU POINTED OUT IN A TWEET THIS WEEK, THEY MAKE 55 CENTS ON THAT SAME DOLLAR.

HOW DO YOU FIX THAT IN 30 SECONDS?

>> SO, I MEAN, FIXING IT IS JUST DESTIGMATIZING A LOT OF IT.

I THINK PEOPLE, WHEN THEY HEAR THAT NUMBER, THEY AUTOMATICALLY THINK THAT IT'S -- THAT THESE WOMEN ARE GOING INTO LOW-PAID WAGE SECTOR GROUPS.

THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN STUDIES PUT OUT THERE THAT A LATINA NURSE VERSUS THEIR WHITE MALE COUNTERPART, PROBABLY THE SAME FOR THAT WOMAN IN THAT SPACE, IS STILL MAKING LESS ON THE DOLLAR.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE TOPIC ITSELF TODAY IS JUST TAKING AWAY THE PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF WHO WE ARE BASED ON OUR GENDER AND NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS CAPABLE, POWERFUL, SUPERIOR, OFTENTIMES, IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU ASKED THE QUESTION BEFORE, I DIDN'T GET TO CHIME IN.

I'M GOING TO CHIME IN NOW.

WE NEED MORE WOMEN IN ELECTED SPACES.

WE NEED A WOMAN IN EVERY SINGLE SPACE WHERE A DECISION IS BEING MADE, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE PERFECT, BUT BECAUSE WE LEND OURSELVES IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND A DIFFERENT CAPACITY.

PUT FIVE WOMEN IN A ROOM AND GIVE US A GREAT OBSTACLE TO OVERCOME.

NONE OF US ARE GOING TO AGREE ON THE BOTTOM LINE, WE'RE GOING TO CURSE, SCREAM, CRY, AND LAUGH, BUT WHEN THE DOOR OPENS, YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT WE MOVED THE NEEDLE AND WE MOVED THE LINE IN THE SAND AND THAT IS TRUE POWER.

>> I ALSO THINK THAT THERE'S AN ISSUE OF NOT ONLY GENDER DISCRIMINATION BUT GENDERIZING THE JOBS THAT WE TYPICALLY FIND OURSELVES IN.

AND THEREFORE, DEVALUING THEM AS IT RELATES TO SOCIETY.

NOW, WE TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO WERE VERY ESSENTIAL, PARTICULARLY DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT NURSES, AND YOU THINK ABOUT TEACHERS, AND YOU WONDER -- AND YOU KNOW, FOLKS IN ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS.

THOSE POSITIONS TEND TO PAY LESS THAN THEIR SORT OF COUNTERPARTS AT A DIFFERENT LEVEL.

AND WE FIND -- WE TYPICALLY FIND WOMEN IN THOSE LEVELS.

WE NEED TO REIMAGINE THE IMPACT AND THE VALUE OF SOME OF THOSE CARE INDUSTRY JOBS TO OUR COMMUNITIES, KEEPING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFE AND HEALTHY, AS WELL AS OTHER TYPES OF WORK THAT WOMEN TYPICALLY FIND THEMSELVES OVERLY REPRESENTED.

>> AND I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO WRAP US UP, BUT IN THAT SAME SPACE IS EXPOSING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT USUALLY REPRESENTED IN HIGH-GROWTH INDUSTRIES, WHERE THERE'S FINANCES IN THE S.T.E.M.

FIELDS AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS THAT REALLY TAKES A 7th AND 8th GRADER, A HIGH SCHOOL AND A COLLEGE PERSON BSZ AND, YOU CAN WORK IN THIS KIND OF SPACE.

HOW DO YOU CONNECT YOU THROUGH THE HIGHER ED OR CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AND HOW DO YOU BECOME A SIX-FIGURE EMPLOYEE, PAYING TAXES IN NEW JERSEY?

>> ALL RIGHT, WE MAY HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BABY, BUT WE STILL GOT A WAYS TO GO.

TERESA RUIZ, BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, HOLLY SCHEPISI, GREAT TO SEE YOU ALL.

THANKS FOR COMING ON.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

GOOD TO SEE MY FORMER COLLEAGUES.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

I MISS YOU.

>> ANY MOM OR DAD WILL TELL YOU THAT RAISING KIDS IS THE HARDEST JOB ANYONE CAN EVER HAVE.

THEY WILL ALSO PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT THE PAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST YET.

FAMILIES AFFECTED BY COVID AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S HAPPENING TODAY ARE SEEING THEIR CHILDREN STRESSING OUT AND WORSE.

THAT WAS THE TOPIC OF DISCUSSION AT A RECENT SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

WITH US ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THAT COMMITTEE, SENATOR VIN GOPAL AND AMY KENNEDY, THE EDUCATION DIRECTOR AT THE KENNEDY FORUM WHO PRESENTED TESTIMONY AT THAT HEARING.

WELCOME TO YOU BOTH.

SENATOR, TELL US ABOUT THE HEARING AND WHAT WAS IT ABOUT IT AND ABOUT THIS ISSUE THAT IS CLOSE TO YOU, PARTICULARLY?

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

THIS WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT HEARING, AND WE, YOU KNOW, AMY KENNEDY IS A ROCK STAR, AND THE KENNEDY FOUNDATION'S BEEN DOING INCREDIBLE WORK ON THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT WE HAD STAKEHOLDERS WITH CABINET MEMBERS AND DIFFERENT LEADERS OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR TALK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOLS IS RIGHT NOW AS WE GET TO THE OTHER END OF COVID.

WE'RE SEEING THAT IT HAD AN INCREDIBLE IMPACT, NOT JUST ON A CHILD WHO MIGHT HAVE LOST A GRADUATION OR A PROM, BUT JUST EVERYTHING FROM AS BASIC AS THAT TO MORE EXPANSIVE ON THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE IN THEIR HOUSEHOLD, SO THAT'S WHAT THIS HEARING LOOKED AT.

IT'S A PERSONAL ISSUE FOR ME.

I'VE HAD MENTAL HEALTH STRUGGLES.

I'VE BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT IT AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IN BREAKING THE STIGMA THAT WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

AND I THINK WE DID THAT IN THIS HEARING.

>> AMY KENNEDY, YOU WERE THERE, AND YOU ALSO GAVE SOME PERSONAL TESTIMONY.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND THE REAL CRISIS IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SCHOOL, REALLY A NATIONAL EMERGENCY?

>> THAT'S RIGHT, DAVID.

THANK YOU.

AND THANK YOU, SENATOR GOPAL, FOR SHARING YOUR LIVED EXPERIENCE.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS ALL IS ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE CHALLENGES THAT THEY'RE HAVING, AND YET, WE HAVEN'T PUT IN PLACE ALL OF THE STRUCTURES TO HELP MEET THE DEMANDS, SO IT'S FANTASTIC THAT WE SEE A REDUCTION IN STIGMA, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING KIDS WHERE THEY'RE SPENDING MOST OF THEIR TIME AND AT THE MOMENT, WHEN THEY FIRST START TO SHOW THOSE SIGNS.

I SHARED AT THAT TESTIMONY HOW I'VE LOST MANY OF MY OWN STUDENTS AND HOW I HAVE FIVE CHILDREN OF MY OWN, SO JUST LIKE THE PARENTS YOU ARE DESCRIBING, WE HAVE THOSE OWN STRUGGLES IN OUR HOUSEHOLD, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN KIDS SHOW THOSE SIGNS, THAT THE STAFF IN THE BUILDING KNOW WHERE TO TURN FOR RESOURCES AND THAT THEY'RE IN PLACE AND THEY CAN BE SEAMLESS FROM WHEN THEY FIRST GET IDENTIFIED TO THAT CARE THAT TREATS THE WHOLE FAMILY.

>> CAN WE TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE SEE THESE ISSUES MANIFEST THEMSELVES?

HOW ARE KIDS ACTING OUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE STRESS THAT THEY'RE UNDER?

>> I CAN GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE.

THIS WAS VERY TELLING.

IT WAS A YOUNG GIRL IN HER CLASS LAST YEAR DURING COVID, AND SHE STARTED CRYING BECAUSE SHE WAS HUNGRY, AND USUALLY, THE TEACHERS WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT IF IT WAS IN-PERSON BECAUSE OF THE FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM, BUT NOW SHE WASN'T EVEN GETTING ONE PROPER MEAL.

JUST THE LACK OF NOT HAVING KIDS IN THE CLASSROOM, SOME OF OUR AMAZING TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS WEREN'T ABLE TO CATCH A LOT OF IT.

SO I THINK THIS IS -- WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF CHALLENGES, SOME SMALL, SOME BIG ON THE MENTAL HEALTH.

WE'RE LOOKING AT STUDENTS HERE, BUT THIS OBVIOUSLY HAD A BIG IMPACT ON PARENTS AND TEACHERS AND EVERYONE IN BETWEEN, SO MAKING SURE THAT OUR SCHOOLS HAVE THE RESOURCES AND ACCESS TO SOCIAL WORKERS, THERAPISTS, COUNSELORS, AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS THE SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING TO SUCCEED OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM IS GOING TO BE CRUCIAL FOR INSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM.

>> AND WHAT'S THE INSIDE IMPACT, AMY KENNEDY?

INSIDE THE CLASSROOM?

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, IT DEMONSTRATES CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS IN THE CLASSROOM.

WE ARE SEEING NOT ONLY AN INCREASE IN DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AND SCHOOL AVOIDANT BEHAVIOR BUT EVEN FIGHTS IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING, AND WE KNOW THAT TEACHER BURNOUT IS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, AND THAT'S NO QUESTION ALSO CONNECTED TO THIS ISSUE.

SO, FEELING LIKE THEY'RE UNABLE TO HELP THE STUDENTS IN THEIR CLASSROOM, AND BEING ABLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT SOMETIMES WHEN WE SEE A CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR, THAT THERE MAY BE SOME UNDERLYING ISSUES THAT ARE PRESENTING THEMSELVES IN THESE SYMPTOMS.

SO, YOU KNOW, IDENTIFICATION IS KEY, AND HOW WE CAN INTERVENE BEFORE IT BECOMES A REFERRAL FOR JUVENILE JUSTICE RATHER THAN A HEALTH CONDITION.

THAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> YEAH, AND IT'S K-12, OF COURSE.

YOU TALKED ABOUT GUIDANCE COUNSELORS.

YOU TALKED ABOUT TEACHER SHORTAGES, BUT IT BROUGHT TO MIND TO ME, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, WHEN I WAS A KID IN SCHOOL, IF THERE WERE ISSUES, THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR INTERCEDED.

DO PEOPLE EVEN GO OUT TO BE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS ANYMORE?

AND IS THERE DIFFICULTY RECRUITING PEOPLE FOR THOSE ROLES?

>> THERE'S A REALLY SHORT STAFF IN GUIDANCE COUNSELORS AND IN ALL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, SO IF STUDENTS ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY IN SCHOOL, YOU HOPE THAT THEY'RE SEEING THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THE GUIDANCE COUNSELORS HAVE BEEN TASKED WITH ADMINISTERING STANDARDIZED TESTS, WITH CAREER PLANNING, WITH A MULTITUDE OF OTHER THINGS, AND SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE YOUR ONE STOP FOR ALL MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS IN A SCHOOL BUILDING, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE RATIO OF STUDENTS TO GUIDANCE COUNSELOR IS SO UNDERSTAFFED AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE A PIPELINE OF PROFESSIONALS TO FILL THOSE FIELDS, AND THEN ALSO FILL IN WITH COMMUNITY PROVIDERS.

>> IT IS BUDGET TIME, AS I'M SURE YOU KNOW, SENATOR.

WHAT CAN THE STATE DO IN TERMS OF MORE FUNDING OR LEGISLATION OR POLICY?

>> THIS IS A REALLY UNIQUE TIME, BECAUSE THE STATE IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SO MUCH IN FEDERAL FUNDS AND ARP FUNDS SO WE'RE CALLING ON THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TO WORK TOGETHER AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING AND THEY'VE BEEN GREAT.

LAST YEAR IN THE BUDGET, WE ADDED AN ADDITIONAL $11 MILLION THAT I WAS PROUD TO SPONSOR FOR OUR EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS, OUR EISS PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE.

WE ALSO ADDED $5 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR OUR SCHOOL LINK SERVICE PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE HOPING TO EXPAND THROUGHOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

SO I'M HOPEFUL THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO MAKE A REALLY BIG INVESTMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS -- THIS IS THE TIME TO DO IT, BECAUSE OF THE FEDERAL RESOURCES THAT WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE.

>> WHERE CAN PARENTS GO FOR HELP?

>> IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR CHILD AND YOU'RE JUST NOT SURE, YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO MHA'S WEBSITE AND TAKE A FREE SCREENING.

THEY HAVE SCREENINGS, HALF A MILLION PEOPLE A MONTH ARE TAKING SCREENINGS ON MHA'S WEBSITE.

THERE ARE SOME RESOURCES THERE.

NAMI, YOUR LOCAL CHAPTERS OF MHA AND NAMI WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO START AS WELL AS MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE CALLING AND CONNECTING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY PROVIDERS.

SO, CHECK IN WITH YOUR PEDIATRICIAN.

BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THESE ISSUES AND ARE HEARING ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO CONTACT THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER IF THEY'RE AVAILABLE.

AND LET THEM KNOW, AT SCHOOL, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AT HOME AND YOUR CONCERNS.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE TALKING TO EACH OTHER.

>> SENATOR, REACHING KIDS IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS TOO BECAUSE THESE ARE NEW FEELINGS FOR KIDS WHO ARE HAVING TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD AND SEEING IT NONSTOP ALL DAY LONG.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S OKAY TO FEEL LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE CONTROL OF EVERYTHING.

>> YEAH.

THEY HAVE TO.

AND LOOK, I CAN'T IMAGINE AS A KID HAVING TO BE TOLD THIS IS WHEN YOU WEAR A MASK, THIS IS WHEN YOU DON'T WEAR A MASK, ALL THESE THINGS HAVE AN IMPACT, AND ESPECIALLY ON A CHILD WHO IS DIFFERENT THAN THEIR SIBLING.

THIS IS GOING TO HAVE AN IMPACT.

THIS IS A TROUBLING TIME, AND YOU'VE GOT SOME KIDS THAT ARE VERY COVID CONSCIOUS, WHICH IS GOOD, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T IMPACT ANYONE'S MENTAL HEALTH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TOO OFTEN.

>> YEAH.

WELL, KIDS FEEL EVERYTHING, EVEN WHEN WE THINK THEY'RE OKAY.

VIN GOPAL, AMY KENNEDY, I APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON TO TALK WITH US.

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THAT'S "CHAT BOX" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN, HOLLY SCHEPISI, AND TERESA RUIZ.

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