SUMMARY OF THE SHOW
On today's show, Adrian brings us an interview with Susan Agel, the President of Positive Tomorrows, Oklahoma's only elementary school specifically for homeless children. Later, Bruce Gale talks with Kid Hero of the Week Shelby O'Neil about her organization, Jr Ocean Guardians.
Being homeless is traumatic for anyone, but especially for a child. The lack of quality, affordable housing is a huge generator of family stress. For homeless children, this toxic-stress exposure affects their health, brain development, learning, memory and long-term functioning.
Research has proven that the first three years of a child’s life largely set the trajectory of their cognitive development, school readiness and achievement, and educational attainment. When these kids come from an unstable home, they are unable to concentrate at school. Often times, they need to be the caregivers for other family members so they miss a lot of school. Poor attendance means they’re missing more and more, already at a disadvantage but falling further behind.
