LIVES IN THE BALANCE

Lives in the Balance is 15 Years Old! There Are Lots of Ways for You to Help Us Commemorate 15 Years of Helping Kids and Their Caregivers…Details Forthcoming!

TO END PUNITIVE, EXCLUSIONARY DISCIPLINE, WE’RE GOING TO NEED NEW LENSES, PRACTICES, AND POLICIES. YOU’RE IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

We are in the midst of a societal and public health crisis. We are losing our most vulnerable kids, largely due to perspectives that are outdated and counterproductive, and disciplinary practices that are punitive and exclusionary.

With each time-out, detention, suspension, expulsion, paddling, restraint, seclusion, and arrest at school, there are children who aren’t getting the help they need and are being pushed away from caregivers who could instead be helping them.

The cost to all of us is profound. Overwhelmed, discouraged educators. Frustrated, desperate parents. Expensive placements. Disenfranchised, marginalized, alienated kids. A pipeline to prison.

It doesn’t have to be this way. That’s why Lives in the Balance offers a wide array of training options and free resources on Dr. Ross Greene’s evidence-based Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) model…right here on this website. And why we advocate for change all over the world.

If you’re ready to start learning about the CPS model right now, click on the button below that best describes you to head straight to our Guided Tour. And if you want to learn about how we advocate for change, keep scrolling down this page.

PARENTS & FAMILIES

EDUCATORS & SCHOOLS

PEDIATRICIANS & FAMILY PHYSICIANS

98,000

physically restrained or secluded in US schools annually

101,000

expelled from US schools annually

92,000

corporally punished in US schools annually

54,000

arrested in US schools annually

230,000

referred to law enforcement from US schools annually

5 million +

suspended in and out of US schools annually

COMPASSION SHOULD BE THE STANDARD, NOT THE EXCEPTION

Doing things differently requires a major paradigm shift for many caregivers. Kids with concerning behaviors aren’t lacking motivation, they’re lacking skills, especially those related to flexibility, adaptability, emotion regulation, frustration tolerance, and problem solving. They aren’t attention-seeking, manipulative, coercive, or unmotivated. They don’t need more time-outs, detentions, suspensions, expulsions, paddling, restraints, seclusions, or police referrals. Those interventions just push them out and away. They do need adults who know how to collaborate with them on solving the problems that are causing their concerning behaviors.

That’s why we’re here. Lives in the Balance advocates for our most vulnerable kids, and helps caregivers see them through more accurate, productive lenses and intervene in evidence-based ways that are collaborative, proactive, non-punitive, non-exclusionary, and effective. Our free resources, trainings, and outreach and advocacy efforts are driving the paradigm shift all over the world. Read our recent op-ed in The Oklahoman.

We invite you to become part of the effort.

HOW YOU CAN HELP →

RESOURCES & SUPPORT

New Lenses and
New Practices

Collaborative & Proactive Solutions

What You Need to Know

It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way

We're Here for You

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With Our Community

Advocate for Change

Be Part of the Solution

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
- Maya Angelou

PAY IT FORWARD

Our lens-changing and life-changing work to ensure that kids are treated in ways that are compassionate and effective — and to end the use of harsh, punitive, exclusionary discipline — is made possible by the generosity of our donors. Your donation is much-needed and much-appreciated.

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