09.29.2016 | New York Amsterdam News | Director of the School Justice Project for AFC, Dawn Yuster, urges the city to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and invest in restorative practices. “There were 93 children in emotional crisis that were handcuffed, all of those students were students of color,” Yuster said. “We hope the city will adopt a pilot program that would invest in comprehensive mental health services in high-need schools, including hospital-based clinics.” Yuster said the arrests and summonses are “terribly traumatic” for students and families. Last year, Yuster recalled that a 9-year-old student with disabilities was held by the NYPD in Velcro handcuffs. “It was devastating to the family to see their child in this situation,” Yuster said. “It traumatizes the child for life.” Yuster advises schools to provide crisis de-escalation training to public safety officers and faculty. Read article