June 21, 2018 Center on the Developing Child Statement on Separation of Families Jack P. Shonkoff, M.D., Founding Director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has released a statement on the impact to healthy development for young children separated from their families at the United States’ border. Dr. Shonkoff states that based on the available understanding of decades of research, healthy brains develop through consistent, stable, responsive, and supportive relationships with at least one caregiver. He further notes that high and persistent levels of stress can disrupt this brain development as well as other biological systems having severely negative impacts on learning, behavior, and physical and mental health throughout the child’s life. Dr. Shonkoff calls for immediate reunification. “Stated simply, each day we fail to return these children to their parents, we compound the harm and increase its lifelong consequences.” To read Dr. Shonkoff’s full statement and for resources related to family separation visit developingchild.harvard.edu.
June 18, 2018 Call Congress and #KeepFamiliesTogether What is going on at our border is shameful. Take action now and call Congress. Senator Pat Toomey: 412-803-3501 (Pittsburgh); 202-224-4254 (Washington D.C.) Senator Bob Casey: 412-803-7370 (Pittsburgh); 202-224-6324 (Washington D.C.) Congressman Keith Rothfus: 412-837-1361 (Pittsburgh); 724-359-1626 (Beaver) Congressman Connor Lamb: (412) 344-5583 (Pittsburgh) (202) 225-2301 (Washington D.C.) Congressman Mike Doyle: 412-390-1499 (Pittsburgh) 202-225-2135 (Washington D.C.) Your two Senators and one Representative are in the best position to force the administration to abandon this new policy of separating kids from their families at the border. If you don’t call them, they don’t know that people are paying attention to this issue. Tell them that you will call back regularly for updates on this issue (and then call back!). Also, tell them that this issue is so important to you, that if they do not act, you will actively work to get someone else elected instead of them. #KeepFamiliesTogether Photo Credit: AP
