Maine State Forum partners with Maine Developmental Disabilities Council for screening of documentary film “The Kids We Lose”
A panel discussion will follow on the topic of Restraint and Seclusion
Jewett Auditorium, UMA Augusta Campus • March 13, 2019 – 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
The Maine State Forum series will partner with the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council for a screening of “The Kids We Lose”, a documentary which details, through interviews and footage from across the country, the rise of punitive interventions such as restraint and seclusion in dealing with children with behavioral challenges.
The film will begin at 5:00 p.m. on March 13, 2019 and immediately following, a panel discussion on Restraint and Seclusion will be held with stakeholders, including parents and educators, as well as experts in child development and alternative techniques in dealing with behaviorally challenged children. The series is free and open to the public.
“The Kids We Lose” is a powerful film that explores the systemic failures that have led to a rise in these interventions, the effects such interventions have on children, and the research that suggests that restraint and seclusion are ineffective for controlling behavior and harmful to the children exposed to it. This event seeks to raise awareness about the practice and the alternatives that are available.
The panel discussion will feature the following individuals:
Nancy Cronin, MA, Moderator.
Prior to becoming the Director of MDDC, Nancy was the Coordinator for the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Systems Change Initiative and the State Autism Implementation Grant Manager in Maine. In that role, she facilitated an interagency effort to achieve an efficient and cost-effective comprehensive system of care for persons with ASD. Nancy joined the staff of the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council in January 2008, having previously served for over four years as the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine.
Dr. Ross Greene, Ph.D., Panelist
Dr. Greene is an internationally recognized child psychologist and acclaimed author. Dr. Greene was on the faculty at Harvard Medical School for over 20 years and is now founding director of Lives in the Balance. His evidence-based model – called Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS), and described in his influential books The Explosive Child, Lost at School, Lost & Found, and Raising Human Beings – has revolutionized the treatment of kids with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Dr. Greene’s experience working with kids in these settings is the guiding vision for this “The Kids We Lose”.
Cathy Dionne
Cathy E. Dionne is the Executive Director of the Autism Society of Maine and has over 22 years in the field of autism. Her knowledge is derived, not only from her lived experience as a parent of a young man with autism, but also from years of helping families navigate through various systems in Maine. She participates in many stakeholders groups and leads several programs for individuals with autism.
Benjamin Jones, Esq.
Ben Jones is an attorney in the educational advocacy program at Disability Rights Maine. He represents students with disabilities all across Maine and has been with DRM for five years. Ben co-authored DRM’s report entitled: ‘Restraint and Seclusion in Maine Schools, Reviewing the First Four Years of Data Required by MDOE Rule Chapter 33’. Ben is a member of the Maine Coalition Against Restraint and Seclusion, a group committed to ending the overuse of these dangerous and ineffective practices.
The Maine State Forum invites prominent Maine policymakers to speak at the University of Maine at Augusta on topics of interest to the Maine community. The question and answer format after the presentation allows attendees to learn and interact with presenters and policymakers. The Maine State Forum is coordinated by Assistant Professor of Justice Studies Sharon McMahon Sawyer.
Additional Information
UMA’s Justice Studies Program
Justice Studies offers students interested in: law enforcement at the federal, state or local level, security (tangible or virtual), corrections and/or probation, investigations of tangible or cyber-crime, or the law—as lawyer or paralegal—the opportunity to acquire an academic foundation for all law-related fields and a credential in one or two specialties. Justice Studies offers a bachelor’s degree and an associate degree as well as certificates in Paralegal Studies, Community Policing and Forensics.
The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council is a partnership of people with disabilities, their families, and public and governmental agencies that promotes and advocates for equal opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to participate in every aspect of community life. We are committed to creating a Maine in which all people are valued and respected because we believe communities are stronger when everyone is included.
Find the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council‘s Facebook page.