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Harold Pierce's blog posts

In California’s Kern River Valley, a reporter finds lives upended by generations of trauma
posted 11/29/2017
For a reporter who found signs of hopelessness in one Kern County community after another, childhood trauma turned out to be the unifying theme, handed down from one generation to the next.
Why are white men in Kern County dying so young?
posted 02/27/2017
An invisible disease has been killing middle-aged white people in the San Joaquin Valley at higher rates than ever before. One doctor calls them "deaths of despair."

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Harold Pierce's Blog
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In California’s Kern River Valley, a reporter finds lives upended by generations of trauma
For a reporter who found signs of hopelessness in one Kern County community after another,... more »
posted 11/29/17
Why are white men in Kern County dying so young?
An invisible disease has been killing middle-aged white people in the San Joaquin Valley at... more »
posted 02/27/17

Harold Pierce's Work
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Project: Stockton emerging as public health model for toxic stress intervention
While scores of public agencies are working to develop resources and programs to address childhood trauma and toxic stress in their communities, San Joaquin County in California has been turning itself into a model for how to address the issue.
Project: Toxic stress is a killer — what can we do about it?
Stress is a powerful force. It can help us survive, but in some cases, lead to a lifetime of medical issues. A kid can only endure so many stressful traumatic experiences before it impacts his health.
Project: Christy Luton struggled with childhood trauma; now she helps others face their demons
So much of Luton’s childhood and adolescence seemed normal to her at the time. Her father mishandling her mother. Her brother coming after her with a metal poker. Her boyfriend with the meth addiction. All normal. It’s a wonder how she didn’t become a statistic herself.

Collaborative Reporting
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Three valley fever bills sail through committee, one pulled by sponsor
Facing pushback from the medical community, California Assemblyman Vince Fong withdrew a bill... more »
Assemblymen ask state for $7 million in fight against valley fever to fuel research, spread awareness
Bakersfield Assemblymen Vince Fong and Rudy Salas submitted a $7 million budget proposal that, if... more »