Despite the contentious politics that the public is exposed to on a daily basis, there are valuable lessons to be learned.
For example, I wonder how many working people are fully aware that they have whistle-blower protections and what they are.
Their only exposure, until most recently, may have been to whistleblowers that have been popularized in films like On the Waterfront, Serpico, All the President’s Men, Silkwood, and Erin Brockovich, to name just a few that might ring a bell.
As the executive director of a nonprofit children’s mental health agency, it is my responsibility to make sure that we have a whistleblower policy.
This is to ensure that all employees understand the organization’s commitment to prohibiting intimidation, harassment, discrimination or other retaliation for reporting actions that are illegal, unethical, and fraudulent or in violation of any organization policy.
According to Tim Barnett, a professor in the Department of Management and Information Systems at Mississippi State University, whistleblowing policies should have the following components as a minimum:
1. A clear statement that employees who are aware of possible wrongdoing within the organization have a responsibility to disclose that information to appropriate parties inside the organization; 2. The designation of specific individuals or groups outside the chain of command as complaint recipients; 3. A guarantee that employees who in good faith disclose perceived wrongdoing to the designated parties inside the organization will be protected from adverse employment consequences; and 4. The establishment of a fair and impartial investigative process.
The Whistleblower Protection Act that was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 1989 extends the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 to offer protections to federal government employees from retaliatory action for voluntarily disclosing information about dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government organization.
If you follow the news you know that a federal employee – a whistleblower, recently filed a complaint involving the president’s phone call with the Ukrainian president. The President denies that any wrongdoing occurred. He is entitled to a fair hearing. Congress is investigating.
In the meantime, the President has asked, “why aren’t we entitled to interview and learn everything about the whistleblower and also the person who gave all of the false information to him?” That’s a fair question. The simple answer is because it would be a violation of the protections detailed in the law.
According to University of South Carolina professor Xuhong Su, “anonymity is of paramount importance for both protecting whistleblowers, but also in the long run, to incentivize more acting whistleblowers along the road.”
The president went on to say that the whistleblower is “almost a spy” and made reference to how spies were dealt with in the past. He didn’t spell it out, but spies were subject to long prison sentences or execution.
In fact, in 1971 when U.S. military analyst Daniel Ellsberg released the Pentagon Papers, exposing decision making regarding the Vietnam War, he was charged under the Espionage Act of 1917 and faced 115 years in prison. The charges were later dismissed.
Imagine if a whistleblower at my workplace filed a report against me for some wrongdoing and when I learned of it if I announced, “I want that person in my office ASAP so I can get to the bottom of this.”
Although I’ve never been the subject of a whistleblower report, it would be most disconcerting to have someone unknown to me, report me for some alleged wrongdoing. Nevertheless, agency policy would prohibit me from doing anything other than waiting for a fair hearing.
I’m sure I would be upset and probably angry. And, I would wonder who made the report. I would likely speculate. I might have some fantasies about what to do about it. I’d like to think that I’d wait out the investigation. Would I make a death threat? I don’t think so.
Andrew Malekoff is the Executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. To find out more, call (516) 626-1971 or visit www.northshorechildguidance.org.
Wondering how to establish and maintain healthy sleep habits for your baby or older child? Here are a few tips from Certified Pediatric Sleep Consultant Corey Wilbur, M.S., founder of Let There Be Sleep! LLC.
Stick to a regular daytime and bedtime sleep schedule as much as possible, even on the weekends. Studies indicate that a regular sleep schedule maintains the timing of the body’s internal clock and can help your children fall asleep and wake up more easily.
A consistent bedtime routine is important. Many parents like to use the “4 Bs”: bath, brush, book, bed. Make the routine simple so it can be used anywhere and by anyone caring for your children.
To prevent sleep disruptions, help your child wind down about half an hour before bedtime with stories and quiet activities. This includes turning off all screens at least one hour before bedtime.
Keep your child’s sleep space cool, quiet and comfortable. Dim lights in the entire house prior to bedtime, and use white noise or soft music.
Make their bedroom a calm space—even somewhat boring! You don’t want the room to be overly stimulating with bright colors, patterns and lights. Remove toys, games and stuffed animals that make noise, have flashing lights, etc.
From age 18 months it is safe to offer your child a security object such as a stuffed animal or small blanket. Encouraging your toddler to cuddle up to a favorite lovey can help him/her self-sooth and feel secure at night.
Include time for exercise and fresh air every day. It can help children feel more awake and focused during the day and have an easier time falling and staying asleep at night.
Don’t put your baby to bed with anything other than water. A bottle or cup with milk, formula or juice can lead to tooth decay.
Avoidoverscheduling. Children need time to wind down in the late afternoon and evening in order to get a good night’s sleep.
To find out more about Let There Be Sleep, visit www.lettherebesleep.com, email lettherebesleep@gmail.com or call (516) 570-7445.
16-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg (Photo source: Greta Thunberg Facebook)
On Sept. 18, I listened to Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old Swedish climate activist who testified before a U.S. Congressional hearing on climate change. Her message was brief and then she answered questions along with a number of fellow youth climate activists.
She told the congressional members that she had no prepared remarks and, instead, was leaving them with written testimony. She said, “I am submitting this report as my testimony because I don’t want you to listen to me, I want you to listen to the scientists. And I want you to unite behind the science. And then I want you to take real action.”
Nevertheless, four months earlier she did offer more extensive remarks to the British Parliament. Here, in part, is what she said:
“My name is Greta Thunberg. I am 16 years old. I come from Sweden. And I speak on behalf of future generations. I know many of you don’t want to listen to us—you say we are just children. But we’re only repeating the message of the united climate science.
“Many of you appear concerned that we are wasting valuable lesson time, but I assure you we will go back to school the moment you start listening to science and give us a future. Is that really too much to ask?
“In the year 2030, I will be 26 years old. My little sister Beata will be 23. Just like many of your own children or grandchildren. That is a great age, we have been told. When you have all of your life ahead of you. But I am not so sure it will be that great for us.
“I was fortunate to be born in a time and place where everyone told us to dream big; I could become whatever I wanted to. I could live wherever I wanted to. People like me had everything we needed and more. Things our grandparents could not even dream of. We had everything we could ever wish for and yet now we may have nothing.
“Now we probably don’t even have a future any more.
“Because that future was sold so that a small number of people could make unimaginable amounts of money. It was stolen from us every time you said that the sky was the limit and that you only live once.
“You lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to. And the saddest thing is that most children are not even aware of the fate that awaits us. We will not understand it until it’s too late. And yet we are the lucky ones. Those who will be affected the hardest are already suffering the consequences. But their voices are not heard.”
Greta went on to offer more specific information about reductions in greenhouse gases including methane gas escaping from rapidly thawing arctic permafrost. A note of clarification: When methane leaks into the air before being used it absorbs the sun’s heat, warming the atmosphere. If you would like more scientific detail you can read Greta’s full remarks to Parliament by clicking the link provided at the bottom of this column.
Greta concluded her remarks by stating, “We children are not sacrificing our education and our childhood for you to tell us what you consider is politically possible in the society that you have created. We have not taken to the streets for you to take selfies with us, and tell us that you really admire what we do.
“We children are doing this to wake the adults up. We children are doing this for you to put your differences aside and start acting as you would in a crisis. We children are doing this because we want our hopes and dreams back.
“I hope my microphone was on. I hope you could all hear me.” Just as Greta wanted Congress to listen to the scientists, I would like you to listen to her.
Andrew Malekoff is the executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. To learn more about the Guidance Center’s innovative programs, call 516-626-1971 or visit www.northshorechildguidance.org.
During the early months of each year, North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center conducts an informal study in an attempt to understand who is calling us for help and what needs they’re calling us about. In recent years, the trend has been that most of the children and teens we see are experiencing depression, often coupled with anxiety.
Approximately 1 in 5 teens experience major depression, but about 60% do not receive treatment.
While everyone can have a bad day or two that eventually passes, with serious depression there is a more intense and prolonged feeling of hopelessness and inability to function in the important areas of one’s life, at school, at home or with peers.
“Both children and teens are at risk of depression when they experience traumatic events in their lives, such as divorce, death of a loved one, abuse or illness,” says Elissa Smilowitz, LCSWR and Coordinator of Triage & Emergency Services at North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center.
But there isn’t always a dramatic event that triggers depression.
“Beginning around puberty, the risk of depression in teens increases,” says Regina Barros-Rivera, Associate Executive Director at the Guidance Center. “Their bodies are changing, and they’re experiencing hormonal fluctuations that can make them irritable and moody.”
During the teen years, peers become the number one influence in each other’s lives, but that doesn’t mean your role as a parent is any less significant. “Even though you feel them pulling away, your teens still need you during this time,” says Barros-Rivera. “They are more likely to begin engaging in risky behavior, so your influence is as important as ever. They need you to help them develop good judgment.”
Along with adolescence comes a whole host of new pressures. Schoolwork, body image, sexual orientation and peer pressure all can combine to make a teen feel overwhelmed.
So, while moodiness is a hallmark for adolescents, how do you know when your teen is experiencing depression and might need professional treatment?
Here are some signs that may indicate depression:
Withdrawal from friends and family
Anxiety
Low self-esteem
Increased anger
Worry about loss of control
Crying often
Inability to feel joy
Changes in appetite (either increased or decreased)
Sleeping more or less than usual
Feeling tired
Changes in grades or attitude toward school
Having trouble concentrating
Physical complaints like headaches or stomachaches
Use of drugs and/or alcohol
Expressing thoughts of suicide or wanting to die
Remember, it’s important that a medical doctor examine your teen since some symptoms of depression can have a physical cause such as thyroid problems, diabetes or other conditions. It may also run in families.
If you begin to see several of these symptoms lasting two weeks or more, contact North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center at 516-626-1971.
Note: For some helpful tips on preventing depression in your child or teen, click here for an article from the Mayo Clinic.
I just finished reading an op-ed piece that was published in the Hofstra Chronicle, entitled: “Anti-Semitism is alive and well at Hofstra” (Sept. 12). The author – Leilah Abelman, moved from San Diego to attend college at Hofstra last year. Abelman, an orthodox Jew wrote: “What I discovered was that anti-Semitism is alive and more insidious than I had expected.”
Her introduction to anti-Semitism occurred before she even stepped foot on campus. When two roommates assigned to her suite discovered that she and another roommate were religious Jews, they opted out. And, then early in her first semester when she told a professor that she would be absent from class during the Jewish high holy days, she was advised that she should reevaluate her religious beliefs.
Shortly after the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh in which 11 Jews were shot, she recalled, “another professor asked the class to discuss whether the shooter was “truly evil.” Many students expressed the belief that the shooter, who murdered 11 innocent Jewish people, could not be considered evil as he did what he believed was right.”
When Abelman expressed her discomfort with one professor asking the class to “imagine a world without Jews in it,” she was told by him to be “less sensitive.” She went on to address her concerns about these and other incidents with university administration and was told that since no university rules had been broken there was nothing they could do about it.
On page 9 of the Hofstra University Handbook, 2019-2012, Dean of Students Gabrielle St. Léger greets the campus community and speaks to the values expected of all Hofstra students regarding the importance of taking personal and social responsibility – and contributing to the greater campus community. The values she cited include: demonstrating respect for yourself and those around you, focusing on acting with integrity and developing into an ethical leader, and exploring the rich diversity around you.
According to Abelman, “Anti-Semitism at Hofstra may be more subtle than a swastika spray-painted onto a Jewish professor’s office door, which happened at Columbia University last year. However, it is just as dangerous.”
Abelman concluded her commentary by stating that she is tired of being ignored by the administration and “told by professors and students alike that anti-Semitism isn’t a real problem, or that it’s not as bad as other forms of racism and bigotry plaguing this nation.”
As the 2019 Jewish high holy days are upon us, we owe a debt of gratitude to Leilah Abelman, who had the courage to speak out and, in so doing, exemplified one of Hofstra’s core values: acting with integrity and developing into an ethical leader.
Andrew Malekoff is the executive director of North Shore Child & Family Guidance Center, which provides comprehensive mental health services for children from birth through 24 and their families. To find out more, call (516) 626-1971 or visit www.northshorechildguidance.org.
