Tagged With "Stress Really is Making You Sick"
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An evidence-based depression intervention for African-American adults of faith
Everyone has to deal with stressful times. Sometimes dealing with hard times can cause you to feel down. REJOICE is a research study that wants to find out the best way to help people (1) recognize when they are feeling down and (2) learn skills that will help people manage low mood. We are looking for churches that are interested in participating in the REJOICE project. Your church may be eligible to participate in REJOICE if the congregation is: 1. Predominately African American 2. Has at...
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Sesame Street Resources for Families Coping After Natural Disasters
In the aftermath of recent hurricanes and wildfires, the Sesame Street in Communities team wanted to reach out to provide information on our available resources to help families cope in the aftermath of natural disasters, and other traumatic experiences. Bilingual videos, articles, printables and more, are all available for free on our website at www.sesamestreetincommunities.org . Here are the links to a few topic pages that may be most useful to you as you work with families in the...
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Sheltering in Place: ACEs-Informed Tips for Self-Care During a Pandemic
Millions of lives have been affected in unprecedented ways by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). We are all grappling with uncertainty—our daily routines interrupted, not knowing what is to come. For those of us who have Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), these times can be particularly distressing. At the Center for Youth Wellness (CYW), we know that childhood trauma can have a significant impact on an individual’s health and well-being – both physiologically and psychologically. Since the...
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Talking ACEs and Resilience on 'Speak Up Arkansas'
Arkansas ACEs/Resilience Workgroup members Dr. Alan Mease, Dr. Chad Rodgers, Janie Ginocchio, and Marquita Little recently discussed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impacts on health and well-being over the life course on "Speak Up Arkansas," a Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families' (AACF) radio show on community radio station KABF. “Speak Up Arkansas” is a talk radio show dedicated to covering issues like health care, education, juvenile justice, the state budget,...
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Tennessee report chronicles progress in addressing health and success of children from infancy to college and beyond
Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam this week released a report highlighting eight years of progress by the state to improve the lives of children and families. Prioritizing Tennessee’s Children: Our Promise to Future Generations reflects an early commitment by Governor Bill Haslam’s administration to make the health and success of all Tennessee children a state priority. In conjunction with Governor Haslam’s Children’s Cabinet and Deputy Governor Jim Henry, First Lady Haslam set out to...
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THE BUILD HEALTH CHALLENGE 2019 CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
To read the announcement and all details, click HERE and see below key dates. BUILD is looking to support dynamic collaboratives driving sustainable improvements in community health. Are you ready to BUILD with us? For this new third cohort, BUILD is looking to support up to 17 innovative collaboratives across the US t hat include a community-based organization, hospital or health system, and public health department working together in dynamic ways to address upstream challenges and drive...
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The Developing Brain & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Thanks to an explosion in scientific research now possible with imaging technologies, such as fMRI and SPECT, experts can actually see how the brain develops. This helps explain why exposure to adverse childhood experiences can so deeply influence and change a child's brain and thus their physical and emotional health and quality of life across their lifetime. The above time-lapse study was conducted over 10 years. The darker colors represent brain maturity (brain development). I have added...
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The Fort Smith Children’s Shelter is Hosting a ‘Virtual Hugs’ Fundraiser [5newsonline.com]
By 5 News Web Staff FORT SMITH, Ark. — Many people are missing their loved ones due to social distancing amid the coronavirus crisis and longing for a simple hug from those that they have not been able to be near. The Fort Smith Children’s Shelter (FSCS) is hosting a fundraiser that allows people to support children in foster care while giving virtual love and hugs to others. When you make a monetary contribution online, FSCS will send a virtual hug to someone you miss or someone you know is...
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The Story of Early Childhood Education in Little Rock Using the Pixar Story Spine
Once upon a time, child care centers in Little Rock met basic, minimum requirements to be licensed by the Arkansas Department of Human Services as a center. Above and beyond the licensing requirements, centers could choose to participate in Better Beginnings, a voluntary system administered by the Arkansas Department of Human Services that sets a quality rating of the enrolled child care centers. Better Beginnings distinguishes the quality of each Arkansas childcare center by a one-, two-...
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The Tiny Cell that Connects our Physical and Mental Health, and Solves a Decades-old Mystery of Why Toxic Stress Leads to Brain Changes that Spark Depression, Anxiety
More than a decade ago, I was diagnosed with several autoimmune diseases, one after another, including Guillain-Barré syndrome , which left me paralyzed twice while raising two young children. All told I spent six years in and out of bed and hospitals, learning, between crises, to use a cane or walker to navigate life as a working-mother-with-chronic-illness. My immune system was repeatedly and mistakenly attacking my body, causing the nerves in my arms, legs, and those I needed to swallow...
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“Three Breaths and Begin: The Place and Potential for Meditation in the 21st Century Classroom”
Bill Meyer – “Three Breaths and Begin: The Place and Potential for Meditation in the 21st Century Classroom” Thursday, November 15 at 6 p.m. (Sturgis Hall) *In partnership with Arkansas Reading Association While the power of mindfulness and meditation have become well-known in the culture at large, their use in education is just beginning. But teachers who incorporate moments of stillness, breath awareness, and calming images know how potent these practices are for creating focus and...
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Tools and how to use them is focus of second webinar on Community Resiliency Model, May 14, 2020
The second of two free Community Resiliency (CRM) webinars with Elaine Miller-Karas , key creator of the CRM, will be held Thursday, May 14, from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. ET, (10 a.m. CT; 9 a.m. MT, and 8 a.m. PT) and will include the practical application of tools of the model. CRM is an ACEs science-based biological model for helping individuals become emotionally regulated during natural disasters and other dysregulating times. Miller-Karas will be joined by CRM trainers from Wilmington, NC:...
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Trauma is Messy
I will always remember the day that, as a student teacher, I watched as a student entered my second-grade room covered in blood. After quickly establishing that he was not injured, we learned that the blood was that of his brother who had been shot the night before. No parents were around that night, so this second grader became the sole caregiver of his bleeding brother. My student would never be the same. We didn’t care about grades or test scores. We just knew that this moment would...
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UA-Little Rock MPA Students Issue Recommendations for AR ACEs Workgroup
The Arkansas Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Workgroup partnered with the University of Arkansas - Little Rock Master of Public Administration's (MPA) spring 2018 capstone class to conduct research and analysis to help guide the workgroup's strategic planning process. Several members of ACEs Connection graciously agreed to be interviewed by the students. We want to say thank you to everyone from ACEs Connection who lent their experience and insight for this project. The class of...
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When Hidden Grief Gets Triggered During COVID-19 Confinement
first published by The Meadows 4/15/20 Our sense of loss during the current COVID-19 crisis can trigger hidden emotions from when we experienced a sense of loss before. Whatever early losses you have had in your life — whether they be your own divorce, your parents, or both, or the abandonment of one parent, a childhood or parental illness or death, financial upheaval, constant moving around, or growing up with parental addiction or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — they are likely to...
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Whole People Series & Study Guide (www.pbs.org)
There's a fantastic five-part series, Whole People , done by PBS, " spotlighting the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) through personal and community stories. It explores the long-term costs to personal well-being and our society. While much work needs to be done, there are many innovative developments to prevent and treat ACES. We all play a role in becoming a whole people." It's amazing. The five topics covered are as follows: Childhood Trauma Healing Communities A New...
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Yes, Stress Really is Making You Sick [newsweek.com]
By Adam Piore, Newsweek, March 2, 2020 In the mid-2000s, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris opened a children's medical clinic in the Bayview section of San Francisco, one of the city's poorest neighborhoods. She quickly began to suspect something was making many of her young patients sick. She noticed the first clues in the unusually large population of kids referred to her clinic for symptoms associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—an inability to focus, impulsivity, extreme...
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2019 Starting & Growing Resilient Communities: Online & In Real Life (IRL) Webinar Series
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. This series is dedicated to providing insight into creating sustainable and effective online & IRL ACEs intiatives. "Starting & Growing Resilient Communities:...
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71 ACEs Initiatives Join ACEs Connection in 2019
We are proud to celebrate the 71 community initiatives that joined the ACEs Connection network in 2019. They are listed below, and can be found along with all existing ACEs Connection communities via the ACEs Connection map. Communities in the United States: Midwest ACEs Indiana Coalition Ardmore (OK) Behavioral Health Collaborative: Chisago County (MN) ACEs Initiative Franciscan Health ACEs Connection FH–Jasper & Newton Counties (IN ) FH–LaPorte County (IN) FH–Lake County (IN)...
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9 New Communities Join ACEs Connection
ACEs Connection Hawai'i Hawai'i is a place of natural beauty, multicultural heritages and practicing cultural arts that provides wellness and healing. However, cultural, historical & generational trauma has lead to an imbalance in our ahupua'a or ecosystem. Join us as we educate, empower & celebrate wellness and resilience building in our communities using trauma and culture aware strategies. Mahalo Community Manager: @Daniel Goya Northeast Region Hawaii Carey's
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AACF Co-Presents “The Raising of America” Documentary
One thing business leaders, philanthropists, parents, child advocates – and even Hollywood – can agree on: The critical importance of quality early childhood education to our nation’s future. At the Bentonville Film Festival on Friday night, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families teamed up with the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center to show the first part of the documentary series “The Raising of America.” It highlights the challenges that communities and our nation face – both...
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ACEs & African Americans Community on ACEs Connection
ACEs Connection envisions a resilient world where ALL people thrive. We are an anti-racist organization committed to the pursuit of social justice. In our work to promote resilience and prevent and mitigate ACEs, we intentionally embrace and uplift people who have historically not had a seat at the table. ACEs Connection celebrates the voices and tells the stories of people who have been barred from decision-making and who have shouldered the burden of systemic and economic oppression as the...
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ACEs & Resilience Coalition Subgroup Meeting
November 13, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. ACEs & Resilience Coalition Subgroup Meetings Please join us Wednesday, November 13, as our subgroups meet to begin working on projects for the new year. We can work together to raise awareness about the effects of ACEs, further the trauma-informed agenda, and help our state become a more resilient place for all Arkansans. We currently have two subgroups: Data Analysis & Policy and ACEs Awareness Training. The former will focus on how the coalition...
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ACEs Connection's Inclusion Tool makes sure nobody's left out
We developed ACEs Connection's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Tool — called the Inclusion Tool, for short — to ensure that ACEs initiatives across the world focus on being inclusive when forming a steering committee, recruiting leaders, providing education about ACEs science, recruiting members, or providing resources and services within their communities. The more inclusive your ACEs initiative is, the more diverse it will be, giving your initiative a real shot at achieving equity and...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Dec. 19
2019 Legislative Session on the Horizon The 2019 regular legislative session of the Arkansas General Assembly starts Jan. 14. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families and the Invest Early Coalition have announced their respective legislative priorities for this session, which are attached. If your organization or agency has legislative priorities related to ACEs and/or resilience that you would like shared with the workgroup, please send them to me. Please be sure to make your voice...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Jan. 2
Meeting Reminder The next ACEs Workgroup meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Jan. 9 at AFMC, 1020 W. 4th St., #300, Little Rock. Our guest speaker will be Laura Abbott, a high school health teacher and victim's rights advocate. She will present on how she talks about ACEs and trauma with her students. If you plan on attending in person, please reply to this email and let me know. If you would like to attend virtually, the login information is below. https://www.gotomeet.me/AFMCPA Phone number:...
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ACEs News and Notes-- Jan. 23
Free Trauma Tapping Technique App One of the most important aspects of trauma recovery is learning self-calming techniques to help relax during an emotional stress response. The Peaceful Heart Network, a nonprofit organization that works with survivors of the genocide in Rwanda and Congo, worked with a trauma expert to develop the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT). TTT is a five-minute sequence of rhythmic tapping on various spots on the face and body while lightly focusing on what bothers you.
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ACEs News and Notes -- Nov. 13
Reminder: Workgroup Meeting Tomorrow The workgroup meets at 1 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) at AFMC, 1020 W. 4th St., #300, Little Rock. If you plan to attend the meeting in person, please reply to this email and let me know. Below is the information on how to attend virtually. Webinar link: https://www.gotomeet.me/AFMCPA Conference line: (646) 749-3112 Access Code: 181-269-685 ARBEST Webinar: Childhood Adversity, Resiliency and the Brain Dr. Andrew James, Ph.D. of the Brain Imaging Research...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Nov. 20
A Season for Giving Thanks As we celebrate Thanksgiving later this week, I wanted to express how thankful I am for each of you, for your support of the workgroup, and your desire to learn more about ACEs, how to prevent and address them, and what you can do to make the lives of families and children better in Arkansas. ACEs work can seem like a massive and daunting task, so I wanted to share with you two recent victories. Rachel Hritz is a workgroup member and kindergarten teacher at Amboy...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Nov. 8
Workgroup Meeting Next Week There will be a general ACEs workgroup meeting at 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at AFMC, 1020 W. 4th St., #300, Little Rock. Angela Duran from the Arkansas Campaign for Grade-Level Reading will talk about the campaign's new Excel to 8 initiative, which aims to provide selected counties technical assistance to develop comprehensive, holistic, and cross-sector networks to support the health and well-being of children birth to 8. We will also review the facilitator's report from...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Oct. 12
Resilience Tools for Adults Most experts in the field of ACEs and resilience will tell you that it's critical to take a two- and sometimes three-generational approach when working to prevent and address ACEs: children don't live in a vacuum, and their adult family members more often than not had similar experiences during childhood. Also, those of us working with children and families affected by adversity and trauma need to ensure we have our own stores of resilience. The Devereux Center...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Oct. 23
2018 National ACEs Conference Highlights Daphne Gaulden, Dr. Chad Rodgers and I attended the 2018 National ACEs conference and pediatric symposium last week in San Francisco. Hosted by Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris' Center for Youth Wellness and ACEs Connection, the event was an opportunity to hear the latest about ACEs screening in pediatric practices and ACEs/resilience work around the country in various sectors. This week, I wanted to share thoughts from the closing keynote by Steve Gross,...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Oct. 3
Subgroups Meet Oct. 10 The ACEs workgroup's policy, education/training and data subgroups will meet at 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at AFMC, 1020 W. 4th St., #300, Little Rock. All are welcome to join a subgroup. If you plan on attending in person, please respond to this email to let me know so that we can expedite the sign-in process when you arrive. If you would like to attend via webinar/conference call, let me know so that I can get you the login/call-in information. The next general workgroup meeting...
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ACEs News and Notes -- Oct. 30
CDC Launches New Online ACEs Training The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Veto Violence website recently launched an online introductory training on ACEs . The training's two modules cover an overview of ACEs and the public health approach to preventing ACEs. Plans are to release specialized training modules for physicians, nurses, health education specialists and general health professionals in the future. Infographic: How Trauma Affects Memory We have two kinds of memory:...
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ACEs science can prevent school shootings, but first people have to learn about ACEs science
The shooting in Florida isn’t only a gun regulation issue. It’s a systems change issue. All of our systems have to change their approach to changing behavior — whether it’s criminal, unhealthy or unwanted behavior — from a blame, shame and punishment approach, to one that is based in understanding, nurturing and healing….in other words, ACEs science.
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Action needed today by trauma advocates to urge Congress to address mental health and trauma in current COVID-19 legislation
The follow is a message from Dan Press, Legal Advisor to the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice ), about the need to contact Congress regarding a COVID 19 funding bill being considered this weekend. He is urging ACEs science/trauma advocates and leaders to send emails to their U.S. Senators and Representatives immediately to address the mental health and trauma implications of this pandemic. All – I hate to bother you on a Sunday, but we urgently need you to contact Congress to...
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Add the ACEs Connection “shortcut” to your phone and help make the world more ACEs Science aware. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Stay current with ACEs Connection -- and easily share stories via social media and email -- by accessing ACEs Connection and/or your community’s home page on your phone. Adding an ACEs Connection shortcut to your phone works for iPhone and Android systems and makes staying logged in, checking in, and sharing out quick and easy, on-the-go! Community managers: Share this post with community members, as using the shortcut is a great way to help your members stay abreast of what’s going on! On...
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AR ACEs/Resilience Workgroup Partners with Graduate Students
The Arkansas ACEs/Resilience Workgroup has engaged the spring 2018 UA-Little Rock Master of Public Administration capstone class to produce a research and analysis report to help guide the workgroup as it develops its Collective Impact common agenda. Collective Impact is the workgroup's framework for action. The class of 13 students, which also includes Nonprofit Management Certificate and MPA/JD concurrent students, has been working since January on the following activities: 1. Conduct a...
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Author Hopes to Put Her Emotions Journals in the Hands of Girls in Every State
Back in the spring, I was in the middle of putting together a panel on community interventions for ACEs when the conference planning chair suggested adding Tara Shephard. We had an amazing panel that day, but Tara hit it out of the park. Her love and care for African-American girls in Arkansas and the adversities they face was apparent in every word she spoke that day. To give some background, Tara is an author, education and mental health advocate; an auditor for the American Correctional...
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Be the Spark: Igniting trauma-informed change within our communities
Authors note: This piece is co-authored by @Lara Kain and @Christine Cissy White. Though we had never worked together or met, we were asked to co-present on creating t rauma-informed changes in communities by the Attachment Trauma Network for the first national (now annual) Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Summit in Washington, DC. This article is an expanded essay version of that presentation). Be the Spark Oprah Winfrey helped mainstream discussion about...
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Beyond ACES Summit: The Impact of Race, Culture, and Poverty Social Media Toolkit
The Beyond ACES Summit: The Impact of Race, Culture, and Poverty registration is LIVE! The summit theme is #MovingBeyondACES (adverse childhood experiences). This year is historically significant because it marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of enslaved Africans to Virginia. It was also a time that marked significant trauma. The summit touches on many different aspects of life and history. It was showcase the heartfelt talent of youth through dance and movement, music, theatre and...
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Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) launches new grassroots initiative to engage and educate Congress
CTIPP (Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice) today announced the launch of the National Trauma Campaign , calling for federal action to prevent and address childhood trauma and build resilience through educating and engaging Congress. Its widely circulated communication invited people from around the country to join the new grassroots initiative. The campaign provides ways for everyone to get involved by joining the effort, becoming a Local Liaison to take the lead in every state...
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Darrell Hammond, Subject of Cracked Up, Will Be Joining Twitter Chat!!
Saturday Night Live veteran Darrell Hammond will be joining the live Twitter Town Hall i mmediately following the virtual screening of Cracked Up! T he documentary film details the long term effects of childhood trauma, told through Darrell’s personal journey in discovering adverse childhood experiences at the root of his lifelong battle with self-harm, addiction, and misdiagnosis. Please join us for this unique chance to hear directly from Darrell Hammond, joined by the film’s director,...
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Did you know you can post a blog on ACEs Connection?
Did you know you can post a blog on ACEs Connection? Have you been wanting to share a news article? Tell us your story? Explain what you're doing in the ACEs world? Look below for videos & link to blog posts on how to post a blog! Plus, videos on how to add photos, documents, and videos to your blog post. Please leave questions or comments below! How-To: Post a Blog Add a How-To: Add a Title Image to your Blog Post How-To: Insert a Video into a Blog Post How-To: Add a Document to a Blog...
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Directory of ACEs Connection How-Tos
Hi all- With the beautiful new changes to our site, please take a moment to review the updated "How-Tos" below . If you can't find what you need or are having issues with the site please let me know. ( Gail ) JOIN How-To: Join ACEs Connection How-To: Join ACEs Connection Groups INVITE How-To: Invite Others to Join ACEs Connection How-To: Invite Others to Join an ACEs Connection Group SIGN IN & UPDATE PROFILE How-To: Sign In to ACEs Connection How-To: Update Your...
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Donna Jackson Nakazawa on bringing down the stress-threat response
Cissy's note: Donna Jackson Nakazawa has graciously allowed me to cross-post some of her current and future Facebook page posts here in the Practicing Resilience for Self-Care and Healing community on ACEs Connection . Hello Friends. As a SciComm journalist with 30 years of reporting and 6 books under my belt, which focus on how our stress response governs our immune health, I’ve been thinking about what I have learned, and how I might help you quiet your body and mind during this # pandemic...
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Fearing Coronavirus, Many Rural Black Women Avoid Hospitals to Give Birth at Home (PEW TRUST)
By April Simpson, April 18, 2020, PEW Trust Black women are two to three times more likely to die from causes related to pregnancy than white women, regardless of income or education. Black midwives could be part of the solution, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, but restrictions on midwifery make it difficult to practice in many states. Pregnant women in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi have been calling nonstop to CHOICES Midwifery Practice in Memphis, but the center is...
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For first time, SAMHSA's annual children’s mental health event focuses on trauma
It is both remarkable and natural that the theme of the 2018 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) May 10th Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day event was “Partnering for Health and Hope Following Trauma”—remarkable to hear “ACEs” and “trauma-informed” roll off the tongues of all the federal officials (some seasoned, some new appointees in the Trump Administration) and natural as the awareness of ACEs science grows at lighting speed…at least it feels that way.
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GABOR MATÉ JOINS EP. 3 on May 21 with Darrell Hammond and Filmmaker Michelle Esrick. [crackedupmovie.com]
CRACKED UP THE EVOLVING CONVERSATION TRAUMA AS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ADDICTION With DARRELL HAMMOND DIRECTOR MICHELLE ESRICK and RENOWNED TRAUMA AND ADDICTION EXPERT GABOR MATÉ, M.D. author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters With Addiction MODERATED BY JANE STEVENS, FOUNDER OF ACES CONNECTION Hosted by ACES Connection Thursday May 21st at 2pm PDT / 3p MT / 4p CT / 5pm EDT FREE FOR ALL WHO REGISTER! IF YOU REGISTER, BUT CAN NOT ATTEND, YOU WILL RECEIVE A RECORDING WITHIN ONE WEEK.
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Got time for a little brainstorming with ACEsConnection?
On Friday, March 20, 2020, you're invited to join me to talk about how we, as a community, can continue to guide and educate ourselves about to deal with the effects of the spread of Covid-19, and how to continue those efforts with people who don't yet know about ACEs science. And, given this last week, how we can provide more support to stay in the front of our brains instead of feeding our amygdala.