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>>> NEXT ON KQED "NEWSROOM,"
MORE THAN 200 FLU DEATHS IN
CALIFORNIA, AND COUNTING.
>> NICE AND RELAX FOR ME.
>> WHY IS THIS YEAR'S OUTBREAK
WORSE THAN OTHERS?
>>> SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
GRAPPLES WITH RACE-RELATED
HARASSMENT.
THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS NOW
UNDER WAY.
>>> AND ONE SAN FRANCISCO
DOCTOR'S EXPERIENCE TREATING
KIDS COPING WITH THE STRESS OF
URBAN LIFE.
>> FOLKS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO
ADVERSITY IN CHILDHOOD HAVE
INCREASED RISK OF CHRONIC
DISEASE IN ADULTHOOD.
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO
KQED "NEWSROOM."
I'M THUY VU.
THE NUMBER OF DEATHS RELATED TO
THE FLU CONTINUES TO RISE.
TODAY, CALIFORNIA'S DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC HEALTH ANNOUNCED 202
PEOPLE HAVE DIED AND 41 MORE
CASES ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION.
WHY IS THE CURRENT FLU STRAIN
MORE POTENT THAN LAST SEASON'S?
JOINING ME TO DISCUSS THE
BROADER PUBLIC HEALTH PICTURE
ARE LISA ALIFERIS.
EDITOR OF KQED'S "STATE OF
HEALTH" BLOG.
AND DR. ERIKA PAN, DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL AND
PREVENTION FOR ALAMEDA COUNTY.
BEFORE WE GET INTO THE
DISCUSSION, SCOTT SCHAEFER WENT
TO VISIT A NEARBY VACCINATION
CLINIC.
HERE'S HIS REPORT.
>> Reporter: SINCE SEPTEMBER THE
ADULT IMMUNIZATION AND TRAVEL
CLINIC IN SAN FRANCISCO HAS BEEN
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DROP IN
FOR A VISIT.
>> IRENE?
HI, HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> Reporter: EVEN IF IT MAY
STING A LITTLE.
>> YOU READY?
>> YEP.
>> OKAY.
JUST A LITTLE PINCH.
>> Reporter: ABOUT 40% OF
CALIFORNIANS GET VACCINATED
DURING THE FLU SEASON.
WHICH RUNS FROM OCTOBER THROUGH
MARCH IN THE U.S.
THIS YEAR, EVEN YOUNG ADULTS ARE
AT RISK FOR SEVERE INFECTION
FROM THE FLU.
IN FACT, 202 CALIFORNIANS UNDER
THE AGE OF 65 HAVE ALREADY DIED
FROM H1N1.
THAT'S THE MAIN FLU VIRUS
CIRCULATING THIS SEASON.
WHEN H1N1 FIRST APPEARED IN
2009, IT INFECTED UP TO 80
MILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
SO I HEADED TO THE SAN FRANCISCO
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO
TALK WITH DR. CORA HOOVER ABOUT
H1N1 AND WHY GETTING VACCINATED
MAKES GOOD SENSE, EVEN IF YOU'RE
YOUNG AND HEALTHY.
>> WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT
ABOUT H1N1.
WHAT IS IT?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
UNIQUE ABOUT H1N1 IS THAT IT IS
KNOWN TO CAUSE MORE SERIOUS
DISEASE IN YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED
ADULTS AS COMPARED WITH SOME OF
THE OTHER SEASONAL FLU STRAINS.
>> DO YOU KNOW WHY THAT IS?
>> I DON'T THINK THE REASONS ARE
WELL UNDERSTOOD.
BRIAN?
HI, BRIAN.
>> Reporter: FORTUNATELY, THE
FLU VACCINE CURRENTLY BEING
ADMINISTERED HAS PROVEN
EFFECTIVE AGAINST H1N1.
THIS POTENT FLU BUG WAS A BIG
MOTIVATOR FOR 33-YEAR-OLD COREY
PERSHING.
>> HAVE A SEAT.
YOU'RE HERE FOR A FLU SHOT
TODAY?
>> YES.
WHAT I'VE HEARD ABOUT THE H1N1
SWINE FLU, IT'S MAINLY PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN DYING FROM IT --
IT'S SCARY TO THINK ABOUT WITH
TWO SMALL KIDS.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU.
>> HAVE A GREAT DAY.
>> YOU TOO, THANK YOU.
>> THAT'S REALLY ONE OF THE
THINGS ABOUT FLU IS THAT IT'S
VERY INPREDICTABLE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY WE RECOMMEND A FLU VACCINE
FOR EVERYONE IS THAT YOU NEVER
KNOW IF YOU'RE GOING TO BE THE
ONE THAT MAY END UP WITH MORE
SERIOUS DISEASE.
>> SO WE JUST HEARD H1N1 IS THE
MAIN STRAIN CIRCULATING THIS
YEAR.
IS IT MORE VIRULENT THAN OTHER
STRAINS, DR. PAN?
>> SO H1N1 IS A NOVEL STRAIN
THAT WE SAW STARTING IN 2009.
AND IT DOES IMPACT DIFFERENT AGE
GROUPS DIFFERENTLY.
TYPICALLY IN A SEASONAL FLU
SEASON WE SEE MOST OF THE DEATHS
AND MOST OF THE IMPACTS IN THE
OVER 65.
WHEREAS WITH H1N1, WE ACTUALLY
SEE POTENTIALLY SOME LEVEL OF
PROTECTION IN PEOPLE OVER 65 WHO
DON'T SEEM TO GET THE SERIOUS
DISEASE.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> THERE ARE A LOT OF THEORIES
OUT THERE.
ONE OF THE MAIN THEORIES IS THAT
PERHAPS THERE WAS A SIMILAR
STRAIN CIRCULATING MANY DECADES
AGO THAT PEOPLE OVER 65 HAVE
SOME IMMUNITY AND ARE PROTECTED.
BUT PEOPLE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.
>> AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DYING,
ARE THEY PEOPLE WITH UNDERLYING
HEALTH CONDITIONS?
OR ARE YOU SEEING PERFECTLY
HEALTHY PEOPLE OF ALL AGES DYING
FROM THE FLU AS WELL?
>> SO ON THE CALL THIS MORNING
WITH THE STATE, THEY SAID THAT
90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAD DIED
HAD SOME UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITION.
BUT THIS LEAVES 10% OF 202, 20
PEOPLE WHO HAD NO APPARENT
HEALTH CONDITION AND STILL
PASSED AWAY.
>> RIGHT.
EVERY YEAR HEALTHY PEOPLE CAN
DIE FROM THE FLU.
THEY'VE DONE -- A RECENT SUMMARY
OF ALL THE PEDIATRIC DEATHS
BETWEEN SEVERAL YEARS OF FLU
SEASON AND THEY LOOKED AT ABOUT
800 KIDS WHO HAD DIED FROM THE
FLU.
I THINK ALMOST 40% OF THEM HAD
NO OTHER UNDERLYING MEDICAL
CONDITIONS.
SO HEALTHY KIDS CAN DIE OF THE
FLU EVERY SEASON AS WELL.
>> SO MANY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED
ABOUT THIS.
IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE HAS
EITHER HAD THE FLU THEMSELVES OR
KNOWS SOMEONE WHO HAS.
IN FACT, IT HIT HOME FOR ME VERY
PERSONALLY BECAUSE A FRIEND OF
MINE, HER HUSBAND DIED RECENTLY
FROM THE FLU.
AND HIS SERVICE IS TOMORROW.
SO LOTS OF CONCERN.
HOW ACCURATE ARE THE STATISTICS
ON DEATHS FROM THE FLU?
IS IT REPORTED FOR EVERYBODY IN
EVERY AGE CATEGORY OR ONLY
CERTAIN PEOPLE?
>> I'M REALLY GLAD YOU ASKED
THAT QUESTION BECAUSE THERE HAS
BEEN SOME CONFUSION, ESPECIALLY
THIS YEAR.
THE ONLY DEATHS THAT ARE LEGALLY
REPORTABLE TO PUBLIC HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS ARE PEOPLE LESS THAN
65 YEARS OF AGE.
AND THAT'S ONLY BEEN LEGALLY
REPORTABLE SINCE 2011.
AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC IN
2009.
>> THAT'S WHEN A STATE LAW CAME
INTO BEING REQUIRING IT?
>> EXACTLY.
>> WHAT'S ALSO INTERESTING IS
THAT CALIFORNIA IS APPARENTLY
THE ONLY STATE THAT REQUIRES
TRACKING OF EVERY FLU DEATH.
CDC, CENTERS FOR DISEASE
CONTROL, REQUIRES REPORTING OF
CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
BUT IT DOES NOT -- WE SPOKE TO
THE CDC THIS WEEK AND THEY DO
NOT REQUIRE THAT ANY STATE
REPORT ALL DEATHS.
>> WHY IS THAT?
>> EVEN THEN IT'S PROBABLY
UNDERREPORTED.
BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE DON'T SEEK
MEDICAL CARE, SOME PEOPLE DON'T
GET TESTED.
CDC DOES TRY TO DO NATIONAL
SURVEILLANCE AND SOME ESTIMATES
NATIONWIDE BUT THEY'RE WIDE,
LARGE ESTIMATES OF
HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATH.
>> I WOULD SAY UNTIL THE
PANDEMIC IN 2009-10, THAT REVVED
UP PUBLIC INTEREST IN INFLUENZA
AND CONCERN ABOUT PANDEMICS.
THAT WOULD BE MY --
>> RIGHT, AND LOOKING FOR NEW
EPPEOPE
EPIDEMIOLO
EPIDEMIOLO
EPIDEMIOLOGY.
IN 1918, THE SPANISH FLU, IT WAS
MOSTLY YOUNGER PEOPLE IMPACTED
AS WELL.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR NOVEL
STRAINS OR NEW PATTERNS OF
DISEASE WAS THE OTHER REASON IT
WAS MADE REPORTABLE.
>> AND A NUMBER OF DEATHS, IN
19186
1918, 675,000 DEATHS BACK THEN.
THE CURRENT VACCINE, HOW
EFFECTIVE IS IT?
EVERY YEAR SCIENTISTS HAVE TO
SORT OF PREDICT IN ADVANCE WHICH
STRAIN WILL BE THE MAIN ONE IN
ANY GIVEN YEAR.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO PUT IT INTO
THE VACCINE MONTHS BEFORE THE
FLU SEASON STARTS.
>> SURE, YEAH.
SO EVERY YEAR IN THE PAST WE'VE
HAD AT LEAST TWO INFLUENZA "A"
STRAINS AND ONE "B" STRAIN IN
THE VACCINE.
THIS YEAR THERE'S A FEW
DIFFERENT ONES.
A FEW THAT ACTUALLY HAVE TWO
INFLUENZA "A" AND TWO INFLUENZA
"B" STRAINS.
SINCE 2009 WE'VE HAD THIS
PARTICULAR H1N1 STRAIN IN THE
VACCINE EVERY SEASON.
IT IS A GOOD MATCH THIS YEAR.
EVEN THE OTHER COUPLE OF VIRUSES
THAT HAVE BEEN TYPED ARE A GOOD
MATCH AS WELL.
>> SO PEOPLE WORRY A LOT ABOUT
THE VACCINE.
BUT -- I MEAN, THE SAFETY
PROFILE IS REALLY QUITE GOOD ON
THE VACCINE.
AND I THINK THE ESTIMATES THEY
GAVE TODAY ON THE CALL WERE
ABOUT -- THAT CHILDREN TEND TO
BE VACCINATED AND ELDERLY TEND
TO BE VACCINATED BUT ADULTS,
THAT'S ABOUT A 40% VACCINATION
RATE.
>> PEOPLE KEEP ON WONDERING, I
HEAR THIS QUESTION ALL THE TIME,
CAN YOU GET SICK FROM GETTING
THE FLU VACCINE?
AND IS IT TOO LATE TO GET
VACCINATED?
>> SO THE -- THEY'VE BEEN
SOUNDING THE DRUMBEAT WEEK AFTER
WEEK, URGING PEOPLE TO PLEASE
GET VACCINATED AND KNOW THE FLU
VACCINE, FOR THE SHOT, IS A
DEADENED VIRUS.
SO YOUR BODY CREATES AN IMMUNITY
TO IT BUT IT CANNOT MAKE YOU
SICK.
IT CAN GIVE YOU A SORE ARM, IT
CAN GIVE YOU LOW FEVER FOR THE
NEXT DAY OR TWO.
THAT'S UNCOMMON.
IT CANNOT GIVE YOU THE FLU.
WHAT WAS THE OTHER HALF OF YOUR
QUESTION?
I'M SORRY.
>> YOU KIND OF ANSWERED IT IN
THE BEGINNING.
WHETHER IT'S TOO LATE TO GET THE
FLU VACCINE EVEN AT THIS STAGE.
>> AND SO WE APPEAR TO HAVE
CROSSED A PEAK AT THIS POINT.
THEY SAID ON "THE CALL" TODAY.
BUT THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT
IT COULD REV BACK UP AGAIN.
EVEN IF WE HAVE CROSSED A PEAK
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE GOING TO
ZERO CASES.
>> RIGHT, GRADUAL DECLINE.
>> THEY'RE STILL ENCOURAGING
PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED IF THEY
HAVE NOT BEEN AND, NO, IT'S NOT
TOO LATE.
>> ARE THERE WARNING SIGNS, ANY
WAY TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S FLU YOU
SUFFER FROM FOR TWO WEEKS VERSES
A FLU THAT CAN KILL YOU?
WHAT SHOULD YOU WATCH OUT FOR?
>> I THINK THE MAIN IMPORTANT
THING FOR PEOPLE TO KEEP IN MIND
AS FAR AS WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL
CARE, IF THEY HAVE A HIGH FEVER
FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR THEY'RE FEEL
FEELING SYSTEMICALLY ILL, REALLY
TIRED, MENTAL STATUS CHANGES OR
DEHYDRATION OR OTHER THINGS THAT
COULD BE CONCERNING, ESPECIALLY
IN PEOPLE WITH OTHER UNDERLYING
MEDICAL PROBLEMS, CALL THEIR
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER OR PERHAPS
SEEK CARE.
BUT IT IS HARD TO TELL WHETHER
YOU JUST HAVE A COLD VIRUS OR A
MILD FLU INFECTION OR OTHER
RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESPIRATORY
VIRUSS THAT CIRCULATE EVERY
YEAR.
>> ASIDE FROM VACCINES WHAT ARE
SOME OF THE BEST WAYS YOU CAN
PREVENT CATCHING THE FLU?
>> ONE IS REALLY BORING BUT WASH
YOUR HANDS.
THAT WILL PROTECT YOU ALSO FROM
EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S
CIRCULATING TOO.
SO -- BUT IN ADDITION, THERE'S
SOME PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE
VACCINATED.
SO FOR THOSE PEOPLE, THE STATE
HEALTH OFFICIALS WERE
RECOMMENDING THAT EVERYONE IN A
HOUSEHOLD BE VACCINATED.
SO ESPECIALLY BABIES UNDER 6
MONTHS OF AGE CANNOT BE
VACCINATED.
SO IF YOU'RE IN A FAMILY WITH A
LITTLE BABY OR YOU ARE A
CAREGIVER FOR A BABY, YOU SHOULD
BE VACCINATED.
THE VACCINE IS READILY
AVAILABLE.
AND I HAVE A LINK IN A POST THAT
I WROTE TODAY, IT'S VERY EASY TO
FIND A MATCH -- ENTER YOUR ZIP
CODE.
>> THERE'S NASAL VACCINE AS WELL
FOR 2 TO 49-YEAR-OLDS, IF YOU'RE
AFRAID OF NEEDLES BUT WANT THE
FLU VACCINE, IT'S ALSO EXTREMELY
SAFE.
I GET IT EVERY YEAR, MY CHILDREN
GET IT EVERY YEAR.
>> IT'S AN OPTION DEFINITELY.
THANK YOU BOTH, DR. ERIKA PAN
AND LISA ALIFERIS.
>>> HELPING CHILDREN DEAL WITH
TOXIC STRESS INDUCED BY POVERTY.
FIRST, THE HARASSMENT OF AN
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENT AT
SANTO STATE UNIVERSITY LAST FALL
HAS PROMPTED MUCH
SOUL-SEARCHING.
AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATOR
RELEASED HIS REPORT.
HE FOUND THE UNIVERSITY
RESPONDED APPROPRIATELY ONCE IT
LEARNED FOUR WHITE STUDENTS HAD
REPORTEDLY TORMENTED THE BLACK
STUDENT.
INCLUDING CALLING HIM RACIST
NAMES AND FASTENING A BIKE LOCK
AROUND HIS NECK.
LAST NIGHT, A TASK FORCE ON
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION FORMED IN
RESPONSE TO THE INCIDENT HELD
ITS FIRST PUBLIC MEETING.
THE GROUP'S CHAIR, RETIRED JUDGE
KORDELL, JOINED US EARLIER TO
DISCUSS WHAT THEY HOPE TO
ACCOMPLISH.
JUDGE KORDELL, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
JUST FIRST OF ALL, SO WE CAN
BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED
HERE, TELL ME SOME OF THE
INSTANCES, THE INCIDENTS THAT
HAPPENED TO THIS BLACK STUDENT.
>> WE KNOW FROM THE FACT
FINDER'S REPORT THERE WERE A
SERIES OF INCIDENTS THAT
OCCURRED IN A SUITE IN ONE OF
THE DORMS, A THEME DORM WHERE
ENGINEERING STUDENTS WERE.
AT LEAST 13, MAYBE 14 DIFFERENT
INCIDENTS.
EVERYTHING FROM GIVING THIS
STUDENT A NICKNAME THAT WAS
RACIALLY DEROGATORY.
THE NAME WAS THREE-FIFTHS,
REFERRING TO THE
GOVERNMENT-SANCTIONED RULE IN
THIS COUNTRY, SLAVERY, SO EVERY
PERSON WHO'S A SLAVE GETS
COUNTED AS THREE-FIFTHS OF A
VOTE, SO THAT WAS FOR PLANTATION
OWNERS SO THEY COULD HAVE MORE
VOTES.
THERE WAS THE RACE-BASED
NICKNAMES.
THEN THEY WOULD LOCK HIM IN A
ROOM AND TAKE THE HANDLE OFF
INSIDE THE DOOR SO HE COULDN'T
GET OUT.
THEN THE ONE EVERYONE HAS HEARD
ABOUT I THINK WAS PUTTING A BIKE
LOCK, A METAL U-SHAPED BIKE
LOCK, LOCKING IT AROUND HIS
NECK.
THERE WERE TWO INSTANCES WHERE
THAT OCCURRED, OR AT LEAST ONE
IN WHICH IT WAS ATTEMPTED.
TAKING HIS SHOES AND HIDING
THEM.
PUTTING A CONFEDERATE FLAG UP,
FIRST IN THE WINDOW SO THAT
THOSE OUTSIDE COULD SEE IT, THEN
MOVING IT HAVING IT IN THE
COMMON AREA IN THE SUITE.
HAVING A SWASTIKA, NAZI
REFERENCES, UP.
WRITING A RACIAL SLUR ON A WHITE
BOARD THAT WAS IN THE ROOM.
SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF
THINGS.
>> ALL IN ALL, BY MY COUNT, 13
INCIDENTS OVER A MATTER OF
WEEKS, ABOUT FIVE WEEKS.
WHY DID NO ONE COME FORWARD TO
REPORT THIS?
>> WE DON'T KNOW.
THE FACT FINDER DIDN'T HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO THE
VICTIM.
BUT IT'S CLEAR THE VICTIM DID
NOT COME FORWARD AND SAY
ANYTHING.
WE DON'T KNOW WHY.
THERE COULD BE A LOT OF REASONS
FOR THAT.
AND THERE WERE STUDENTS WHO
KNEW.
BECAUSE THIS VICTIM TOLD HIM BUT
HE ASKED THEM TO NOT SAY
ANYTHING.
I FIND THAT PROBLEMATIC THAT
THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
BECAUSE THEIR SILENCE LED TO
THIS, THIS ABUSE CONTINUING.
SO THAT'S A CONCERN ABOUT,
WHAT'S THE THINKING?
WHAT'S THE MENTALITY?
WHAT'S THE MORAL OBLIGATION THAT
STUDENTS HAVE?
>> SO ONCE THE SCHOOL DID FIND
OUT, AND THEY FOUND OUT BECAUSE
HIS PARENTS ENTERED HIS DORM
ROOM AND SAW THE CONFEDERATE
FLAG AND SAID, WHAT'S GOING ON
HERE?
THAT'S WHEN IT ALL BECAME
PUBLIC.
THIS WEEK A FACT FINDER CAME OUT
WITH HIS INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATIONS, BASICALLY SAYING
THE UNIVERSITY ACTED SWIFTLY AND
PROPERLY.
IN THAT THEY DID EVERYTHING FROM
MOVING THE HARASSMENT SUSPECTS
AWAY FROM THE STUDENT AND THEN
EVENTUALLY SUSPENDED THEM.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE
SCHOOL'S RESPONSE AND WHAT IS
YOUR TASK FORCE GOING TO DO NOW
AS A RESULT OF THAT?
>> THE SCHOOL'S RESPONSE, I HAVE
TWO DIFFERENT OBSERVATIONS ON
IT.
ONE IS THAT AS CONSISTENT WITH
WHAT THE FACT FINDER FOUND,
THERE ARE RULES AND POLICIES
THAT THE FACT FINDER FOUND DID
NOT -- THEY WERE NOT BROKEN.
THEY WERE ADHERED TO BY THE
UNIVERSITY.
AND THAT KIND OF FOR ME BEGS THE
QUESTION, IF ALL THE RULES WERE
ADHERED TO AND THIS STILL WENT
ON FOR THIS LONG, THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG, THERE'S A
PROBLEM.
THE TASK FORCE WHICH I CHAIR,
THE PURPOSE IS TO LOOK AT THIS
FACT FINDING REPORT AND THEN TO
SEE WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS THERE
ARE TO BE MADE SO THE
UNIVERSITY, TO IMPLEMENT TO SEE
THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN
AND WHAT LESSONS WE CAN LEARN
FROM THIS.
>> SO YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT,
WHY IS IT THAT THIS STUDENT
DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS SOMEONE OR
A GROUP THAT HE COULD COME
FORWARD AND TALK TO.
WHAT ELSE WILL YOU BE LOOKING
AT?
>> WHAT'S THE TRAINING OF THOSE
WHO LIVED ON THE FLOOR, THE
RESIDENT ADVISERS, STUDENTS WHO
WORK AS QUASI STAFF, AND THOSE
WHO SUPERVISE THE RESIDENT
ADVISERS, WHERE WERE THEY?
WHEN THAT CONFEDERATE FLAG WAS
UP IN THE WINDOW AND THEY WERE
TOLD TO TAKE IT DOWN AND THEY
WERE AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER
INQUIRIES, THAT IS PROBLEMATIC?
IT TURNS OUT MANY, MANY TIMES
INDIVIDUALS FROM STAFF HAD TO GO
TO THAT SUITE TO DEAL WITH
ISSUES.
YET THE RED FLAGS, THEY'RE
WAVING, BUT IT DIDN'T SEEM TO
REALLY GENERATE THE KIND OF
RESPONSE IT SHOULD HAVE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
BOTH THE TRAINING OF THOSE WHO
WORK IN RESIDENTIAL LIFE.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT
FRESHMAN ORIENTATION.
THESE WERE FRESHMEN.
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LONG TIME
TO BE AT THIS SCHOOL BEFORE ALL
THIS JUMPED OFF.
SO WHAT'S THE ORIENTATION?
DO THEY REALLY TALK ABOUT ISSUES
ABOUT RACE AND ABOUT APPROPRIATE
BEHAVIOR?
>> YOU HAD YOUR FIRST PUBLIC
MEETING THIS WEEK, YOU'LL HAVE
MEETINGS EVERY TWO WEEKS UNTIL
APRIL WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR REPORT.
>> WHAT I THINK IS SO UNIQUE
ABOUT THIS PROCESS IS THAT
THERE'S A LOT OF SOUL SEARCHING
GOING ON.
AS EVIDENCED BY THE FIRST
MEETING THAT WE HAD.
PEOPLE REALLY TALKED ABOUT THE
CONCERNS THEY HAVE.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS IS THAT
THIS IS IN A PUBLIC FORUM,
NOTHING HIDDEN, TRAS PARENT AS
IT GETS.
IT'S MY HOPE THAT WHAT WE'RE
DOING WILL SERVE AS A MODEL FOR
ALL OF THE UNIVERSITIES WITHIN
THE CALIFORNIA STATE SYSTEM.
THIS IN MY VIEW IS THE PROPER
WAY TO DO THIS.
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNIVERSITY, TOP STAFF,
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, WERE
ABSOLUTELY SUPPORTIVE AND ARE OF
HAVING THIS BE A VERY
TRANSPARENT AND PUBLIC PROCESS.
BECAUSE AS A RESULT OF THAT, YOU
GENERATE TRUST IN THE PROCESS
AND TRUST IN THE
RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY VERY
PASSIONATE.
JUDGE KORDELL, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME.
>>> WHEN CHILDREN ARE REGULARLY
EXPOSED TO THE STRESS OF
POVERTY, VIOLENCE, AND SUBSTANCE
ABUSE IT CAN HAVE A LASTING
IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL HEALTH.
IT CAN LEAD TO PHYSIOLOGICAL
CHANGES AND ILLNESS, EVEN TAKING
YEARS OFF THEIR LIVES.
THE CENTER FOR YOUTH WELLNESS IN
SAN FRANCISCO'S BAY VIEW HUNTERS
POINT IS WORKING TO COUNTERACT
THE EFFECTS OF THIS SO-CALLED
TOXIC STRESS.
SCOTT SCHAEFER SPOKE WITH THE
CENTER'S CO-FOUNDER DR. NADINE
BURKE HARRIS.
>> WELCOME.
YOU WORK WITH KIDS WHO ARE
REPEATEDLY EXPOSED TO WHAT YOU
CALL TOXIC STRESS.
GIVE US A SENSE OF THE KIDS YOU
WORK WITH IN PLACES LIKE BAY
VIEW HUNTERS POINT AND
NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THAT, WHAT
SOME KIDS WHO LIVE IN THOSE
PLACES GO THROUGH.
WHAT'S LIFE LIKE?
>> SURE.
WHAT WE SEE IS MANY KIDS WHO ARE
EXPOSED TO THINGS LIKE CERTAINLY
A LOT OF COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, BUT
ALSO KIDS WHO ARE GROWING UP IN
FAMILIES WHERE THERE'S A PARENT
WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR PERHAPS
SUBSTANCE DEPENDANCE.
AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT
THEY SEE IN DETERMINES OF JUST
DEALING WITH HOUSEHOLD FUNCTION.
THERE'S A LOT OF FAMILIES WHERE
ONE PARENT ISN'T AS HOME OR
MAYBE A PARENT IS INCARCERATED.
AND SO THESE ARE THE CHALLENGES
THAT WE SEE.
>> WHAT'S INTERESTING AND WHAT
YOU'VE DISCOVERED AND WHAT
OTHERS HAVE DISCOVERED AND
YOU'RE BUILDING ON IS THE IDEA
THAT THIS AFFECTS THEM NOT JUST
PSYCHOLOGICALLY BUT PHYSIO
PSYCHOLOGICALLY.
TALK ABOUT THE PHYSIOLOGICAL
CHANGES THAT HAPPEN.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
WHEN KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO
TRAUMATIC STRESS LIKE I JUST
DESCRIBED, IT ACTIVATES THE
STRESS RESPONSE SYSTEM, WHAT WE
CALL THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT SYSTEM.
AND THAT RELEASES HORMONES AND
CHEMICALS LIKE ADRENALINE AND
CORTIS
CORTISOL.
NOW WE UNDERSTAND KIDS WE
PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT HAD PROBLEMS
WITH ATTENTION, LIKE ADHD,
ACTUALLY WHAT WE'RE SEAL IS THE
IMPACTS OF THESE STRESS HORMONES
THAT ARE IN THEIR BODY.
>> IS IT A CHANGE IN THEIR
BRAINS, NERVOUS SYSTEMS, ALL
THAT?
>> SO IT'S ACTUALLY ALL OF THOSE
THINGS.
AND YOUNGER CHILDREN ARE MORE
SUSCEPTIBLE BECAUSE THEIR BRAINS
ARE GROWING, ARE MORE IMMATURE,
AND THEY'RE GROWING QUITE
QUICKLY.
BUT WE SEE CHANGES IN BRAIN
STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION, WHAT WE
CALL BRAIN ARCHITECTURE.
AS WELL AS CHANGES TO THE
HORMONAL SYSTEMS IN THE BODY.
AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, CHANGES
TO THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AS WELL.
SO THEY'RE AT HIGHER RISK FOR
DISEASES LIKE ASTHMA AND OF
HAVING WORSE ASTHMA.
AND ALSO HIGHER RISK FOR
DISEASES IN ADULTHOOD LIKE CHONG
OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE
AND HEART DISEASE WHICH IS THE
NUMBER ONE KILLER IN THE UNITED
STATES.
>> YOU'RE SAYING EXPOSURE TO
THESE STRESSES AT A YOUNGER AGE
CAN TAKE YEARS OFF A PERSON'S
LIFE WHEN THEY GROW UP AS WELL?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MAJOR
RESEARCH STUDIES THAT HAVE SHOWN
THAT FOLKS WHO ARE EXPOSED TO
ADVERSITY IN CHILDHOOD HAVE
INCREASED RISK OF CHRONIC
DISEASE IN ADULTHOOD.
AND IN FACT, THOSE IN THE MAJOR
STUDY THAT WAS DONE, BETWEEN
KAISER AND THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION,
THOSE PEOPLE WHO WERE EXPOSED TO
SIX OR MORE OF THESE ADVERSE
CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES HAD A
20-YEAR DIFFERENCE IN LIFE
EXPECTANCY.
>> WOW.
WHAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING SOUNDS A
BIT LIKE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS
DISORDER WHICH WE HEAR ABOUT IN
VETERANS COMING BACK FROM IRAQ
AND AFGHANISTAN.
TWO QUESTIONS.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
IN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE?
AND IS IT AS HARD TO REVERSE IN
KIDS AND TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS
AS IT IS IN VETERANS?
>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A LITTLE
BIT -- WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
IS DIFFERENT FROM POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS WHY IS
BECAUSE WHEN A CHILD IS EXPOSED
TO A TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE, THEIR
BRAINS AND BODIES ARE STILL
DEVELOPING.
AND SO THAT TRAUMA ACTUALLY HAS
A DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT BECAUSE
IT AFFECTS THE WAY THAT THE
BRAIN WILL GO ON TO DEVELOP.
SO IT'S NOT JUST A STATIC
PROBLEM, IF THAT MAKES ANY
SENSE.
AND SO THE GOOD THING ABOUT
THAT -- AND THIS IS THE PROMISE
AND THE HOPE -- IS THAT WHEN WE
INTERVENE EARLY WITH KIDS, WE
HAVE ALL OF THAT BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT ON OUR SIDE IN TERMS
OF THE ABILITY TO DO HEALING
WORK.
>> SO WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN AN
INFANT OR YOUNG PERSON,
2-YEAR-OLD, 3-YEAR-OLD, COMES
INTO THE CLINIC, WHAT DO YOU DO?
KNOWING ALL OF THAT, WHAT DO YOU
DO?
>> THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BASIC
THINGS THAT WE DO.
NUMBER ONE, WE HAVE A HOME
VISITING PROGRAM.
SO IT STARTS WITH REALLY GOING
IN AND LOOKING AT THE CHILD'S
ENVIRONMENT.
FINDING WAYS TO SUPPORT THE
PARENTS.
THIS IS TWO-GENERATION WORK.
WHEN IT COMES TO HEALING THE
EFFECTS OF TOXIC STRESS, YOU
HAVE TO WORK WITH A CAREGIVER TO
BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM, AS WELL
AS WORKING WITH A CHILD TO HEAL
THE SYMPTOMS OF TOXIC STRESS
THAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING.
>> SO YOU CAN'T TAKE AWAY
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, YOU CAN'T
NECESSARILY CURE A PERSON'S
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, YOU CAN'T GET
SOMEBODY OUT OF PRISON.
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS YOU
DESCRIBED.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO, THEN?
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
CAN DO IS, NUMBER ONE, TEACH THE
PARENT OR CAREGIVER --
OFTENTIMES MANY CAREGIVERS HAVE
THEIR OWN HISTORY OF TRAUMA
THAT'S BEING REPEATED.
PARTICULARLY WE SEE THIS IN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR HAVING A
PARENT WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.
AND SO HELPING THE CAREGIVER
HAVE RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO BE
ABLE TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILD.
THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S REALLY
IMPORTANT.
A SECOND THING THAT WE DO IS
CERTAINLY MENTAL HEALTH CARE.
BOTH FOR THE CHILD AND FOR THE
CAREGIVER.
AND THEN THE OTHER THINGS THAT
WE DO ARE SOME WELLNESS
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE
EVIDENCE-BASED.
THINGS LIKE BIOFEEDBACK AND
BREATHING TECHNIQUES THAT HELP
PEOPLE EVEN IF THEY'RE IN THAT
DIFFICULT SITUATION TO BE ABLE
TO SELF-REGULATE AND CALM DOWN.
>> WHAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO TAKE
AWAY FROM HEARING THIS?
THEY MIGHT SAY, I DON'T LIVE IN
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD, OR MY FAMILY
DOESN'T GO THROUGH THIS, WHY
SHOULD WE CARE?
>> ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING
THINGS ABOUT THE BIG STUDY DONE
BY KAISER AND THE CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL WAS THAT THAT
STUDY POPULATION WAS 70%
CAUCASIAN, 70% COLLEGE EDUCATED.
WHAT THEY FOUND WAS THAT
TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION HAD
AT LEAST ONE ADVERSE CHILDHOOD
EXPERIENCE.
AND 12% OF THEIR PATIENTS HAD
FOUR OR MORE.
SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
AFFECTS US ALL.
CERTAINLY WE SEE A HIGHER DOSE
IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.
BUT FOR EVERY CALIFORNIAN, FOR
EVERY AMERICAN, THIS IS AN
ISSUE.
>> DR. NADINE BURKE HARRIS,
THANKS FOR YOUR WORK AND FOR
COMING IN AND TELLING US ABOUT
IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THAT INTERVIEW WAS PREVIOUSLY
RECORDED.
SCOTT JOINS US NOW FOR A LOOK AT
WHAT'S COMING UP.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONCERN
ABOUT THE DROUGHT.
NOW WE'RE FINALLY SEEING A
PRETTY BIG STORM PREDICTED THIS
WEEKEND FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
AND THE SIERRA.
THERE'S A TEMPTATION HERE TO
THINK THAT MAYBE WE'RE OUT OF
THE WOODS.
THAT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT, IS IT?
>> IT'S NOT QUITE RIGHT, IT'S
NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT,
UNFORTUNATELY.
DESPITE ALL THE PRECIPITATION
THAT WE'RE HOPING FOR THIS
WEEKEND, ONE TOP STATE WATER
OFFICIAL THIS WEEK SAID WE COULD
GET SIGNIFICANT PRECIPITATION
EVERY OTHER DAY, NOW THROUGH THE
END OF MAY, AND STILL ONLY GET
TO NORMAL.
>> WOW.
>> THAT GIVES YOU A SENSE OF HOW
MUCH DEFICIT WE HAVE.
THIS IS GOING TO HELP.
IT DOES HELP A LITTLE BIT.
BUT NOT NEARLY ENOUGH TO GET US
OUT OF ANY KIND OF DANGER.
>> SO EVEN IF WE'RE IN THAT
DANGER ZONE STILL, ANY AMOUNT OF
RAIN MUST HIP, DOESN'T IT?
>> IT DOES.
IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING TO HEAR,
THIS DOESN'T MATTER AT ALL.
IT DOES.
FIRST OF ALL, IT HELPS WITH
REDUCING FIRE DANGER.
WE HAD WILDFIRES UP NORTH AND
DOWN NEAR LOS ANGELES LAST
MONTH.
THAT WILL BE TAMPED DOWN.
IT ALSO HELPED SCRUB THE AIR.
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF SMOG IN
PLACES LIKE THE CENTRAL VALLEY
AND RAIN WILL HELP CLEAN THAT
UP.
THAT'S GREAT FOR KIDS ESPECIALLY
WITH ASTHMA.
IT HELPS WITH THE RESERVOIRS TO
A CERTAIN EXTENT.
IT'S ALL GOOD, IT ALL HELPS.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT
TO THINK, WE DON'T HAVE TO
CONSERVE WATER.
OR THE FARMERS ARE GOING TO GET
EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED.
THAT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.
>> DEEP YOUR SHOWERS SHORT AND
CONSERVE.
WE MENTIONED THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES DROUGHT
LEGISLATION IN OUR PIECE ON THE
SAN JOAQUIN RIVER LEGISLATION.
THE HOUSE PASSED IT.
BUT BOY, A LOT OF CRITICISM FROM
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS, JERRY
BROWN, EVEN PRESIDENT OBAMA.
WHAT WAS THIS LEGISLATION DOING
AND WHY IS THERE SO MUCH
CRITICISM?
>> WHAT IT WOULD DO IS
REALLOCATE WATER FROM THE NORTH
TO THE FARMERS.
AND IT WOULD END THESE RIVER
RESTORATION PROGRAMS.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHICH OF
COURSE CONTROLS THE HOUSE, IS
VERY CLOSE TO AGRICULTURE AND
FARMERS.
THEY DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF
SENDING WATER AWAY FROM FARMS
AND TO FISH AND TO RESTORATION.
IT'S GREAT POLITICS FOR THEM.
IT HELPS SOME OF THOSE
VULNERABLE INCUMBENTS IN THE
CENTRAL VALLEY, REPUBLICANS WHO
COULD BE FACING TOUGHER RACES.
BUT IN TERMS OF SOLVING THE
PROBLEM, NOT GOING TO DO
ANYTHING.
AND IN FACT, IT'S DEAD IN THE
WATER, SO TO SPEAK.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO PASS
THE SENATE.
AS YOU SAID, PRESIDENT OBAMA
CRITICIZED IT.
SAID HE WOULD VETO IT IF IT GOT
TO HIS DESK.
SENATOR FEINSTEIN SAYS SHE'S
GOING TO INTRODUCE SOMETHING
ELSE SOON THAT WOULD HELP
FARMERS WITHOUT HURTING FISH AND
RIVERS AND ALL THAT.
WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT
IT IS.
>> DEFINITELY A LOT OF DROUGHT
POLITICS GOING ON.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
AND MORE TO COME.
>> SCOTT, THANK YOU.
>>> FOR ALL OF KQED'S NEWS
COVERAGE, GO TO KQEDNEWS.ORG.
>> I'M SCOTT SHAFFER.
THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> I'M THUY VU.
HAVE A GREAT NIGHT AND A GREAT
WEEKEND.