Blog

By Christina Velez, The Relationship Foundation July 15, 2021 Have you ever questioned the ways that racism and trauma intersect? As a person of color, I know I have. Racism is a core determinant of health which often leads to social inequities. From watching PBS’s video on “Mental Fitness for Resilience-The Trauma of Racism” it was interesting to learn how racism and trauma, often converge in inseparable ways. Dr. Terri D. McFadden, a general pediatrician, and professor at Emory University...

By Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post, July 13, 2021 If all goes well, the IRS will start depositing monthly payments this week into the bank accounts of millions of American families, many of whom are struggling to put food on the table. Look for these child tax credit payments to show up on July 15. This money couldn’t come at a more opportune time, given the news that the consumer price index rose 5.4 percent in June compared to the same period a year ago. The last time families saw...

There's a new webpage for the VA TICNs ! You can find a PDF of the full list of networks, an interactive map, the eNote archive, resources, and more. We will continue to update and add to the page and ask that you please share any resources, updated information, or additional info! -send to ceure@grscan.com or mmcginn@grscan.com- Advocacy Opportunity! The RISE From Trauma Act provides a unique opportunity to help launch a new federal grant program of up to $4.8 billion over eight years ($600...

Did you know that the Hampton Roads Trauma-Informed Community Network was conceived in 2016? The network officially launched in July of 2016 through a two-year grant from the Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia (FACT). Seven individuals, led by The Up Center, started a conversation about trauma-informed practices in our community. What started as a conversation has morphed into burgeoning network of professionals, community members, and champions striving to transform how we deliver...

Broken Places explores why some children are severely damaged by early adversity while others are able to thrive. By revisiting childhood trauma victims we profiled decades ago, we learn how their experiences shaped their lives as adults. Broken Places interweaves these longitudinal narratives with commentary from a few nationally renowned experts to help viewers better understand the devastating impact of childhood adversity as well as the inspiring characteristics of resilience. View the...

I participated in an important discussion about the use of pronouns. The person who initiated the discussion wanted to understand the issue on a granular level. They were having a hard time wrapping their mind around the need to move beyond the binary categories of him and her. I listened intently as two colleagues worked diligently to understand each other's perspectives. It was an encouraging discussion because neither party was pushing an agenda. They were both listening to understand.

"Our survival depends on us finding ways to create joy for ourselves, ways to laugh together and sharing insights that can only come from truly knowing ourselves," says Alex Schmider, GLAAD's associate director of transgender representation. Read more about finding joy amid trauma during Pride month and beyond . What Juneteenth Means to Me Trauma-informed specialist Amanda Lynch writes about intergenerational trauma and intergenerational resilience as Juneteenth was declared a national...

Enjoy this Resilience Week recap video showcasing some of the amazing contributions and celebrations throughout the week! Save the Date! Virginia's second annual Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week will be August 1-7, 2021. The week aims to implement the Racial Truth & Reconciliation Virginia mission of empowering marginalized communities in acknowledgment of truth to promote healing, reconciliation, and justice for children and families. View the Racial Truth & Reconciliation VA...

Chloe Yang, 5/10/21, positiveexperience.org/blog We are thrilled to announce the publication of our journal article, “Transforming Practice with HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences),” in Maternal and Child Health. You can read the paper here on the HOPE website, on our Publications page . This paper was a team effort, led by Dr. Dina Burstein, HOPE Project Director. Other authors include: Chloe Yang, a research assistant working on HOPE; Kay Johnson, President of Johnson Group...

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its first in a series of reports called “Snapshots” after polling 3,000+ parents about their experiences during the pandemic. Surprisingly, while many of the findings were concerning, most people reported a deepening relationship with their children despite the stress and tension they were experiencing.

By David Oliver, USA TODAY, May 12, 2021 It's Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and one great way to mark the month is by educating yourself — and your children — about the community through reading. Given the proliferation of violence against the community, knowledge is power. Children can start to internalize race and gender stereotypes as early as 4 years old, Dr. Christia Brown, a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Kentucky, previously told USA...

By Xenia Shih Bion, Illustration by Ard Su, California Health Care Foundation, May 13, 2021 At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff of Asian Health Services (AHS) in Oakland noticed something worrisome. The city’s Chinatown district, where the community health center operates a few clinics, had lost its routine hustle and bustle. “The streets were empty,” said Thu Quach, PhD, chief deputy at AHS. “We were still open, so we saw it — all of our staff members were still going into...