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Devereux SVP and Chief Medical & Clinical Officer, Dr. Marilyn Benoit, responds to New York Times Opinion, “Don’t Grade Schools on Grit.”

A response to Angela Duckworth’s opinion, published March 26, 2016:

As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, I am delighted we are openly addressing the need for schools to support children’s social and emotional development. Schools promote resilience and facilitate character development, but are a secondary crucible for such development. Policy makers fail to address parents’ responsibilities (parents provide the primary crucible within which children are reared). This primary crucible is where templates for empathy, compassion, self-control, turn taking, frustration tolerance, self-soothing, and respect for authority are developed. The first year of life remains critical in developing secure attachments between parent(s) and child. Within the context of that secure attachment, babies develop early capacities that result in self-regulation. Parents serve as “external regulators” helping young children build the neuronal brain structures that later take over and self-regulate. Children should come to school with such readiness, with schools enhancing and facilitating further development. Policy makers should promote additional support to young parents, enhancing their success in this critical first stage of child development.

Marilyn Benoit, M.D.

Gretchen Kelly   Devereux PLEA's Gretchen Kelly elected president of CAP Executive Committee

Congratulations to Devereux PLEA Executive Director Gretchen Kelly, who was recently elected president of the Conference of Allegheny Providers (CAP) Executive Committee. CAP is an affiliate member of the Rehabilitation and Community Providers Association (RCPA).

Team Huddle   Servant Leadership Snapshot: Devereux PA Adult Services Program Coordinator Jewel Lerums

Devereux Pennsylvania Adult Services Program Coordinator Jewel Lerums empowers her staff to take ownership of their roles by emphasizing the value of their contributions and creating an environment where everyone feels their work is appreciated. Learn how she serves others through her actions and decisions.

Team Huddle   Conference empowers Devereux's Champions to cultivate an inclusive work environment

Devereux recently hosted its annual Servant Leadership and Diversity, Equity and Belonging (DEIB) Champions Conference where more than 50 emerging leaders from across the organization – selected as Servant Leadership and DEIB Champions – had the opportunity to connect, collaborate and cultivate new ideas on how to ensure their colleagues, and the individuals and families they serve, feel welcomed, included and supported.

Mike Ernst headshot   Devereux’s Mike Ernst featured on The Dream Team podcast

Listen as Devereux Senior Vice President of People Operations Mike Ernst, SHRM-SCP, discusses Devereux’s ASCEND Career Accelerator Program on The Dream Team podcast. Ernst also shares information about the latest job opportunities and how you can advance your career at Devereux.


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