Shannon Royce is the new director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS Center).
Below is a letter she issued to the more than 300 members of the Trauma-Informed Congregations Community of Practice group, many of whom are ACEs Connection members.
Members of the group has been meeting virtually, and regularly, for more than a year to learn about each others' work, as well as notable developments in the ACEs/trauma-informed/resilience-building community, especially in the faith-based community. The group is open to anyone who wants to join. The group's meetings have been managed and hosted by the HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Royce, who is relatively new to ACEs science and practice, has put the meetings on hold until further notice.
If you think that it would be useful for this Center and Royce to continue learning about ACEs science/trauma-informed/resilience-building practices, and distribute that learning to others, I encourage you to let Royce know about the work that you're doing. You can contact her at (202) 358-3595 and by email at partnerships@HHS.gov.
Here's her letter; her bio is attached:
May 22, 2017
Dear Friends,
I am delighted to have this opportunity to serve as the Director for the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this position I am privileged to work with Jane Norton, Director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs.
I am eager to work with our faith and community partners in your efforts of service and stewardship to bring help and healing in your communities. In doing so, I believe our work can help HHS fulfill its mission to enhance and protect the health and well-being of all Americans. You are instrumental partners in addressing community needs and concerns in the work you do every day, serving your members and neighbors and meeting the needs of our most vulnerable citizens.
Whether you are opening your doors to programs and services, mobilizing, educating, and training members or community volunteers, we look forward to joining with you to address the HHS priorities for a healthier America: opioid addiction, childhood obesity, serious mental illness, and health reform.
As we look ahead, I would like to highlight one of those priorities and consider how we can move forward together on the issue of opioid addiction. Just last month, Secretary Price announced the HHS Strategy for fighting the Opioid Crisis. In his speech, he acknowledged that 90 percent of Americans struggling with addiction are not getting treatment. We know that faith and community leaders witness those suffering with addiction and may be the first connection to help. As we consider how to strengthen the response of community leaders to address the crisis of substance abuse in their communities, we hope you will join the conversation. In that conversation, know you will have a strong partner in Secretary Price. Toward the end of his speech, Secretary Price said the following,
“Addiction isn’t a moral failing, but the addicted person is a moral agent. He may be enslaved to drugs, but he is not a slave. He may have lost control of his life, but he has not been robbed of his free will or his God-given ability to bear the greatest burdens in life and come out on the other end stronger for it.
The Apostle Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure.” As a nation, we can endure this temptation. But none of us — no person, no family, no community — can do it alone.
It is only with your help that, as a nation, we can find a way out for every American struggling with addiction.”
That help can come from faith-based and community partners just like you. Let us know what is effective in your community as we work together to build best practices to fight the scourge of this devastating epidemic. We’ll be reaching out to you and welcome the opportunity to hear from you.
The team at the HHS Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships may be reached at (202) 358-3595 and by email at partnerships@HHS.gov. Follow me on Twitter: @jcnjmama and the Center @PartnersforGood.
Warmly,
Shannon Royce, Esq.
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