Listening to all Uvalde voices will promote true healing in the community | Opinion
by National Bureau of Economic Research on school shootings in Texas — 33 from 1995 to 2016 — found that these tragedies have lasting impacts on students. Those exposed to a shooting had higher levels of chronic absenteeism, were more likely to be held back a grade, and were less likely to graduate high school or go to college. The study authors estimate each student exposed to a shooting could expect to earn $115,550 less over the course of their lifetime.
Institutional knowledge is essential to mental health system reform. Judges, city council members, service providers and other local leaders play important gatekeeping roles that make them invaluable to the cause. However, we should elevate the expertise of the families, teachers and caregivers who lived through the painful experience. These are the people who see how Uvalde youths and children are grieving and healing.
Achieving that laudable goal will mean working alongside individuals and community groups at every step of the process, from planning to implementation. It will mean communicating and coordinating the efforts of all involved. Most importantly, it will mean recognizing community members as the essential stakeholders that they are.
There are models on how to do this in Texas. A recent health assessment from Texas A&M University School of Public Health relied heavily on community discussion groups composed of people from different walks of life. A key objective of these groups was to maximize participation by minimizing the effects of unequal status or power within the groups. Aachieved something similar.
In communities across Texas, we have seen that this coordinated, collaborative approach is not only possible, it is powerful. It is also cost-effective. We all care deeply about the people of Uvalde. We want to help them heal. Moving forward, we need to broaden the scope of evaluating and supporting their mental health by centering their voices. We must ask them what they need. And we must listen.
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