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Adversity Is Not Destiny

Childhood adversity can activate the human stress response system, which is primarily made up of the hormones/chemicals cortisol and adrenaline. In the developing brain of a child, prolonged activation of the stress response system can cause these chemicals to actually become toxic. Think of that – a child’s brain being bathed in toxic chemicals due to abuse, neglect, or chaotic household dysfunction. It’s called toxic stress. It’s real, not imagined, and it’s physiological, potentially affecting brain and body development. It can have serious implications to a person’s lifelong health and social future (think: criminal/substance abuse, etc. conduct). 

According to Child Trends, a national organization that collects and reports data on the health of our nation’s children, Montana is in the top three states (per capita) whose children have the highest levels of childhood adversity. But adversity is not destiny, and here’s the good news! People all across Montana are joining a movement called Elevate Montana to elevate the well-being and futures of our children and families! 

Last week, 350 people attended ChildWise Institute’s statewide Elevate Montana Summit in Helena which was focused on the response to toxic stress; building resilience in children. This movement is growing rapidly all across our state, bringing together people from all walks of life and different vocations, with varied personal stories and experiences. Why? Because the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study shows, through deep research and hard data, that childhood adversity is common to most of us. ACEs are not “those people,” ACEs are us! 

Because of the partnerships ChildWise Institute has in this work, the Elevate Montana Summit was meaningful to so many people. Financial partnerships like the Court Assessment Program of the Montana Supreme Court, St. Peters Hospital, Montana Health Co-Op, MHNet, Montana Children’s Trust Fund, PacificSource Health Plans, Opportunity Bank, Shodair, MT’s Children’s Miracle Network, and the Great Northern Hotel.

The work of ChildWise is grounded and informed by decades of experience, expertise and national-recognition of our founding organization, Intermountain. Using the phrase “Everything is not fine,” Intermountain is raising awareness of, and has solutions for, the mental health and substance issues of our children and youth. Building resilience in these children is a key factor in elevating their well-being. The staff at Intermountain are experts in this. 

At the Elevate Montana Summit we were fortunate to have incredible experts in ACE’s, trauma and resilience educate, inspire, and motivate our audience. Yes, the Elevate Montana movement is truly changing the future of our kiddos right now, and you can be part of it. There is no cost, and this movement does not belong to any person or organization. It belongs to the people of Montana. It belongs to you. I urge you to join the movement at www.ElevateMontana.org and be a change-maker in your community. 

Todd Garrison
ChildWise Institute
855-513-1177

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