RUMFORD — The Oxford County Wellness Collaborative is hosting a screening of “Paper Tigers,” a film that captures the pain, danger, beauty and hopes of struggling teens — and the teachers armed with new science and fresh approaches that are changing lives for the better.

The documentary film will be screened at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Mountain Valley High School auditorium and is open to the public. Refreshments and child care will be provided.

“Paper Tigers” follows a year in the life of an alternative high school in Walla Walla, Washington, that has radically changed its approach to disciplining its students, and in the process has become a promising model for how to break the cycles of poverty, violence and disease that affect families.

A short, facilitated discussion will take place after the movie to allow audience members the opportunity to reflect on the film and what it means for the community. 

The Wellness Collaborative’s Community Safety Workgroup is working to hold showings of the film across the county in an effort to build awareness of some of the key ideas underlying the documentary: Adverse Childhood Experiences, toxic stress, trauma-informed care and non-punitive approaches to education.

The screenings will be followed by an educational opportunity held in the spring to deepen the understanding around ACEs and resiliency – the idea that a safe environment with caring, healthy relationships can help us to heal from trauma.

“Paper Tigers” is an intimate look into the lives of selected students at Lincoln High School, an alternative school that specializes in educating traumatized youth. Set amidst the struggling rural community of Walla Walla, the film intimately examines the inspiring promise of trauma-informed communities – a movement that is showing great promise in healing youth struggling with the dark legacy of ACEs.

Following six students over the course of a school year, we see Lincoln’s staff try a new approach to discipline: one based on understanding and treatment rather than judgment and suspension. Using a combination of documentary and revealing diary cam footage, “Paper Tigers” is a testament to what the latest developmental science is showing: that just one caring adult can help break the cycle of adversity in a young person’s life.

Although the movie takes place in a school setting, it holds relevance for every community member. The film contains harsh language and some graphic footage and may not be suitable for young children.

The Oxford County Wellness Collaborative is a network of individuals and organizations who are committed to making Oxford County a healthier place to live, work, play and raise a family. The Collaborative formed in 2011 as a result of the county-wide community reflecting on Community Health Needs Assessment data.

This data, combined with troubling results from the annual County Health Rankings, prompted many to respond by forming the Collaborative to address priority health areas in a more coordinated, cohesive manner. The network is arranged around several workgroups: Healthy Food, Active Living, Community Safety (focused on interpersonal violence and abuse, such as child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, etc.), Behavioral Health (substance abuse and mental health) and Community Engagement.

The Oxford County Wellness Collaborative is currently administered by Healthy Oxford Hills, a Healthy Maine Partnership and a project of Stephens Memorial Hospital.

FMI: www.PaperTigersMovie.com.