SPACE BETWEEN
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Mission Statement
Space Between facilitates human and school transformation through mindfulness practices.
About This Cause
Simply stated, our vision is that all students are well and whole. High levels of acute or chronic stress have a significant adverse effect on the brain’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive, resulting in many negative physical, emotional, and mental health outcomes. Recent studies clearly show that children and teens are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety. Youth mental health issues and disorders are rising. National hospital admissions for suicidal children, ages five to 17, doubled between 2008 and 2015; 66 percent of 16-year-olds have experienced trauma; 44 percent of children, ages eight to 17, lose sleep due to stress (Forefront, 2018). With the most recent data available, the Seattle Public Schools Healthy Youth Survey of 2014 indicates that 8 percent of eighth graders have attempted suicide. We know that poor well-being during childhood is directly linked to physical and mental health issues, substance abuse, and incarceration later in life. At the same time, our teachers are experiencing high levels of stress. Teachers today are expected to do more than teach academic lessons; they support students with emotional and social needs and address challenging behaviors more than ever before. A recent study from the University of Missouri reported that 93 percent of elementary school teachers indicate a high degree of stress in their jobs. About 50 percent of teachers leave the profession within their first five years of teaching. Numerous studies indicate that student well-being and achievement decline when teacher stress is high. Our programs teach children, teens, educators and families practices that reduce stress, improve their ability to self-regulate and to focus mentally, as well increase compassion toward themselves and others. More than thirty years of research indicates that the practices of mindfulness, breathing and intentional movement create a relaxation response in the nervous system. Mindfulness is one important piece of enabling systemic support for the mental health and well-being of our students and teachers. Mindfulness aligns with other social emotional programs being implemented in schools and provides a key missing element to these programs, which is building awareness, focus and compassion. Teachers also learn about the ways that mindfulness practices can help prevent challenging behaviors and help students de-escalate when they are stressed. Trauma-informed professional development for teachers focuses on practicing mindfulness as a form of self-awareness and self-care, helping teachers avoid the escalation cycle that so often accompanies working with children with trauma. We do our work in three primary program areas: ● In-Classroom Teaching and Coaching: Facilitators work directly with children and teens in their classrooms over eight weeks, teaching mindful movement, breathing, listening, and other mindfulness tools. Rhythm, repetition, and intentional teaching create awareness and common language to help students cope with and reduce stress and anxiety, to build self-regulation, focus, and resilience, and to practice compassion toward themselves and others. Facilitators provide modeling as a way for teachers to see practices and outcomes in action, with integrated coaching so that teachers can try the practices for themselves. ● Mindful Educator Training and Retreats: Facilitators work directly with educators, teaching them mindfulness practices as a form of their own self-care and how this work of self-awareness also affects their teaching and interactions with students. Teachers also learn how to teach mindfulness practices to their students and integrate these practices throughout the school day. This program is offered in the form of retreats, multi-session experiential learning programs in schools, and other professional development opportunities for educators. ● Programs for Families: So that parents and caregivers can experience mindfulness practices for themselves, Space Between educates families on current research, personal mindfulness practices, and tools for mindfulness practices with their children, through its family education program. These practices are both for families whose children learn mindfulness at school and also for families who are interested in integrating mindfulness into their home life. Currently, Space Between is primarily serving children and teachers in Seattle Public Schools through its three program areas. However, Space Between workshops attract participants from community-based partners and educators beyond the Seattle area. The majority of our school partnerships are with under-resourced schools. Key Space Between Staff include: Kim Armstrong, Co-Founder and Co-Director Oversees finances, marketing, and teaches Tai Mattox, Co-Director Oversees board relations and teaches Kara-Lee Ruotolo, Co-Director Oversees programming and teaches Nicole Sirivansanti, Co-Director Oversees fund and business development Space Between also contracts with facilitators from diverse backgrounds who work in classrooms with students and teachers.