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"I'm self-made. I grew up in the projects in Brooklyn, New York. I thought that was the American dream." That was billionaire-turned-maybe-presidential hopeful Howard Schultz, recently tossing around a clichéd phrase that means, per Merriam-Webster, "a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful." Yet neither that definition of gritty individual achievement, nor Schultz's...

As a follow-up to the " Are You OK? You Are Not Alone Anymore" Resource Poster , there have been important discussions in many local and statewide coalitions about "Windows of Opportunity" to build trust and provide a warm handoff to these critical services. However, as we know through research, individuals with untreated trauma may have difficulty trusting strangers, organizations or government agencies, even if they are wanting to help. Often times, these individuals are experiencing...

The second session of the Starting & Growing Resilient Communities: Online & IRL (In Real Life) was a success. Many members tuned in and were able to learn more about mission/vision statements, creating norms and strategic planning. I have embedded the video in this post. The third session, Launching Your ACEs Initiative , will take place March 15th. If you have any questions about the series, please contact Ingrid Cockhren , TN & Midwest Community Facilitator.

ACEs Connection presents, "Starting & Growing Resilient Communities: Online & In Real Life (IRL)", an interactive webinar training series focused on developing existing and potential online community managers and IRL ACEs champions. If you are not a current online community manager, please know that ALL are welcome to engage. This series is dedicated to providing insight into creating sustainable and effective online & IRL ACEs initiatives. "Starting & Growing Resilient...

AUGUSTA, MAINE (AP) — Maine 's corrections agency is working with a Massachusetts hospital to address mental health, stress and trauma impacting staffers and inmates. The Maine State Prison will hold wellness meetings Tuesday for staff members led by McLean Hospital clinicians. Such trainings will help staff manage and reduce the stress and trauma of their jobs and develop emotional regulation skills. Female offenders will also receive help advocating for their wellness needs. [For more on...

AUSTIN (Nexstar) — School security experts gave lawmakers their input on legislation that aims to improve safety on Texas campuses. The legislation, Senate Bill 11 , was authored by State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood. His district includes Santa Fe, Texas, where a gunman killed 10 people on May 18, 2018. "We say a lot of times that education is the most important thing we do in Texas, but it’s really just right below public safety," Taylor said as he laid out his bill at Tuesday's...

In the wake of high-profile school shootings, many schools over the past decade have invested scarce educational funds into putting more police in schools. School districts have shown a near obsession with “hardening” schools despite federal data revealing that the real crisis of schools isn’t violence, but a broad failure to hire enough support staff to serve students’ mental health needs. Today’s students are experiencing record levels of depression and anxiety and many forms of trauma.

Weeds return when roots are not pulled. In the same way, our clients’ traumatic symptoms return when we fail to identify and treat the root causes. When this happens, traumatized children and experience first order change or change that is not permanent. Join Dr. Scott Sells for a free webinar to help families "get out of the weeds."

The next installment of Villa of Hope's webinar series for the Alliance for Stronger Families & Communities is "Adaptive Change to RECOVER Efficiency & Strength to Build a Culture of Change & Empowerment." It takes a humble and courageous leader to do this work!

Join us in Hagerstown, MD, for the next training in our series focused on trauma informed strategies for the community! Unconditional Care features three dynamic speakers focused on how addressing issues of self- care and self-awareness lead to the outcomes we all are striving for children, families and neighborhoods. Group rates are available for organizations registering ten or more attendees, contact Kerry Fair at 240-513-6370 or kfair@besterhope.org to arrange. Our last several trainings...

Echo conferences have a reputation for being chockfull of innovative approaches and cutting edge science. We featured Dr. Vincent Felitti and ACEs science in 2013, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in 2015, and hosted the first national trauma-informed schools conference in 2016. What we have prepared for 2019 is no exception. I guarantee it will be unlike any conference you have attended before. The innate wisdom of the body has long been understood by traditions like yoga and harnessed for...

At a March 6 hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) addressed the impact of family separation on the mental and physical health of children at the border. Her questions to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen focused on the impact of toxic stress caused by family separation on short and long-term health outcomes for children. Sec. Nielsen was unfamiliar with the concept of “toxic stress.” Here’s a short description of the 6-minute exchange...