Protein for All provides education and resources to engage and support individuals and families who find themselves navigating the legal system while experiencing challenges such as food insecurity, homelessness or high levels of stress. A collaboration between Dr. Kristen Allott, FYJP, Parents for Parents and local dependency courts, Protein for All is changing the way courts interact with and support families to be their best. Courts in Pierce, Kitsap, Spokane, Thurston and King Counties now have programs that provide protein-rich snacks to parents when they come to court. Attorneys, Parent Allies and evaluators have told us that they ensure that parents eat a meal including protein before important hearings or assessments. And they are seeing positive results – for parents and for themselves.
History: Protein and parole – that combination launched CITA’s health and decision-making work with Washington judicial officers in late 2014. Dr. Kristen Allott, a Naturopathic Physician and expert on nutrition and brain function, introduced the judges to an Israeli study that found parole boards made progressively harsher decisions the longer they went without eating. She went on to explain the neurobiology behind this study and the importance of eating sufficient protein when fair, informed decisions need to be made. Many of the judicial officers in the room were intrigued and have since successfully implemented Dr. Allott’s tools and advice in their daily lives. Parent Allies who attended the judges’ training saw how this information could help parents better participate in their dependency cases. Working with Dr. Allott and FYJP, they developed tools to help parents optimize their brain function during high stakes events, such as appearing in court and participating in evaluations and visits. Following a popular session at the 2016 Children’s Justice Conference in Spokane, the Protein for All movement was officially born.
Program Resources
- The Protein for All website is maintained by Dr. Allott. It has a wealth of information and resources to help courts, community programs, attorneys and individuals support people to optimize their brain function during high stake events like going to court, evaluations, visitation and case meetings. The site offers tools, including videos, handouts and even recipes, and a blog where dependency partners can ask questions and share ideas. We hope you’ll check it out!
- Protein for All Toolkit – everything you need to know to implement a Protein for All program in your community
Research
- “Parenting Aggravation Associated with Food Insecurity Impacts Children’s Behavior and Development” – Center for Poverty Research Policy Brief, by Kevin Gee and Minahil Asim, UC Davis.
- Snacks and Punishment – a short video explaining the findings of an Israeli study of parole decisions and judges’ food intake, produced by the New York Times in a series on implicit bias.
Contact
For more information about getting a Protein for All program in your community, please contact Jennifer Nguyen at jennifer.nguyen@courts.wa.gov
