Tagged With "Operation Christmas Child"
Ask the Community
Religion, faith and trauma
I'm looking for some research in the area of children's belief in God, faith and religion when a child experiences trauma. I've been commissioned to write an article for a major children's ministry publication and can no research in this area. I...
Ask the Community
Systemic Abuse Within Mission Communities/Organizations
The mission community, on both an agency-level and as a collective community, functions as a closed family system. Closed family systems have some inherent characteristics which have allowed abuse to go unchecked in many settings. The followings...
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Re: Linear draft plan
My suggestions to the linear plan from Kimberly for tomorrows discussion from our most recent email: A. Under mission and Values: Create trauma-informed congregations that are able to address the co-occurring epidemics of Violence Against Children (ACEs) , adult violence, untreated mental illness... etc.... VALUES Prevention as Young as Possible ( T h ere needs to be a statement here somewhere as to preventing ACEs --- it needs to be specific.... such as our values are to protect the rights...
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Re: You know I really believe!!!
Heather thanks so much for your comment! I really appreciate it but I am truly going beyond a place of this is what happened to me thanks for helping! I use my story to give a valid example of a real life person who shows us clearly that this is an area for those of us with faith should engage! Engagement is soooooo consistent with what folk with faith are charged by God to do??? I know this to be true!!!! I believe I am a boddisatva (a person born to bring compassion to the world). I was...
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Re: You know I really believe!!!
Originally Posted by Tina Marie Hahn, MD: Heather thanks so much for your comment! I really appreciate it but I am truly going beyond a place of this is what happened to me thanks for helping! I use my story to give a valid example of a real life person who shows us clearly that this is an area for those of us with faith should engage! Engagement is soooooo consistent with what folk with faith are charged by God to do??? I know this to be true!!!! I believe I am a boddisatva (a person born...
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Re: You know I really believe!!!
Jesus felt as he was dying the same pain, I believe, felt by the traumatized child! Matthew 27: 45-46 "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. "And about the nineth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? My god, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
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Re: Why you faith community should know about ACEs - from Helenair.com
Thanks bunches. I get Child Trend's news but must have missed this one. Too much to read and keep up with at times.
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Re: Something to Consider... for the next time you teach or preach on worry
Perhaps it's time for the faith-based community to step back awhile and *listen to* those who sit in their pews (and those who leave). Start by asking those with lived experiences' of emotional distress to share their stories of the memories and events that served as the kindling for later depression, substance abuse and PTSD. Just... LISTEN. Take notes because the ten items on that ACEs list do not comprise the totality of adversities that children experience. Children may be bullied...
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Re: Confused
Hi Ed- I would suggest that you start with your local church and your personal denomination. There are lots of folks working to bring ACEs and trauma-awareness to faith communities. Often these people are working in child and youth ministry, and in areas such as food pantries, homeless services, etc. All the best, -Sarah
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Re: Youth Ministry and Mental Illness
Yes it is important to respond to mental illness among adolescents as they will be the next set of parents but if we understand adversity in childhood and work with families on prevention and health, rates of adolescent mental health concerns would plummet. A dual approach recognizing and mitigating mental illness, addiction, suicide, family and community violence is the most effective way to gain major change and give so many hope!!!! Dr. Heckman really focuses on this for example early...
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Re: TICongregationsLinear Plan2.docx
Thanks Jane. I'll check it out. I just did a Trauma-Informed Church workshop for children's ministers last week for the CMConnect conference. For the most part the children's ministers that came to my workshop had no idea about what a trauma-informed church was all about. They really didn't even know how to devise a list of traumatic events in children other than the child abuse, sexual abuse and homeless. I was floored. We have so much work to do. Here is one guy's conference notes on my...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thank you for such an insightful article. I wish every teacher, child care worker and church leader would read this post. You have explained what is happening in that child's brain very well. Why can't we as a nation figure this out?
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Re: What does it mean for a ministry to be "trauma-informed?"
The following was in this month's church newsletter. "... "... Many years ago one of my parishioners came to see me because he could not shake a nagging feeling of anxiety and depression. Through the pastoral counseling process I also discovered that he had a heart condition. As I asked him questions to better understand what had happened in his life that could have triggered such physical and emotional symptoms he revealed that his mother had left his family on Christmas Eve as a child. He...
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Re: What does it mean for a ministry to be "trauma-informed?"
I have another friend that has developed a program called "Chained No More." This program is run in churches and is about breaking the chains from childhood. My friend, Robyn Bessemann didn't know much about trauma in the beginning but after lot of study, being raised in a minister's home and ministering to kids and youth of divorce she learned. The Lord impressed upon her to write this program. http://robynbministries.com/chained-no-more/ She also now has an Internet radio show where is...
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Re: An ACES Presentation as a Sermon
Hi Folks! I'm attaching two documents that I used to deliver the teaching I mentioned in the post above. There is a Powerpoint file that I used on the Sunday that I've converted to a PDF. And the script that accompanies the Powerpoint is also in a PDF document. This presentation and the supporting documents are a 'work in progress.' As Ronnie and I present this to other churches and ministries in the area, I'm sure that it will evolve. We are doing our best to share this important material...
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Re: Presenting to my congregation
Hi Dale, I would love to connect with you. I am a ACE's Child Advocate at a DV/SA support center. My role is to educate those in the community and trying to implement sustainable programming. My next steps is to reach out to the faith based communities. I would love to see your presentation as well as any information or resources you have that would be helpful. Thank you so much. I hope we can connect!
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Re: Presenting to my congregation
Hi Dale, thank you so much for sharing your PowerPoint. I have been talking to my pastor and church and I am preparing to help my church become trauma-informed. I'm creating resources online, so would appreciate anything ya'll have gathered. Thanks, Beth@moorewellness.life P.S. I saw your question about neuroplasticity and I have some information if you'd like to use any of it for future teachings. Brain Plasticity Neural Growth Derives from exposure to new experiences and stimuli Allows for...
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Re: Call for Proposals Philadelphia Trauma Conference (March 6th)
Thank you so much for your interest, Stacy! The conference focuses on interprofessional work, drawing attendees from the Medical & Healthcare, Mental Health, Early Childhood, K-12 Education, Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare, Higher Education, Faith, and Community(Block Captains, organizers, etc.) sectors. The majority of sessions are accessible to cross-disciplinary audiences, while a few are targeted to attendees from specific backgrounds/professions. the website for the conference is...
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Re: Child abuse can be found in every culture and religion
Not just in every cutlture and religon Dave, but in homes, streets, public view, schools every where. Child abuse can be found anywhere and everywhere. I agree we must teach every religious leader as well as the entire public the damaging effects of child abuse. The only effect of keeping it quiet is a bad life long outcome, with decisions, perceptions, betrayls from trusting yet again as an adult. My experience my body grew, but my mind remained a child, well thats just from my experience.
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Re: from my blog... Creating Communities of Hope for those with ACEs
I agree with you, Chris! There are so very many people hurting that the generic sermons just don't reach them. We have to get out and serve the hurting people like Jesus did. We started a ministry that we are waiting for 501c3 status for, called Lapeer P.E.A.R.L.S. (Prevent. Educate. Advocate. Restore. Love. Support) that is faith based, using Matthew 18:10 Beware that you don't look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my...
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Re: from my blog... Creating Communities of Hope for those with ACEs
Chris, I understand what you are saying. My expertise is in ministering children from divorce and single parent homes. For years I ran a therapeutic child care in OK. I had no church to send these families to because churches just didn't understand what was needed. Parents would say, "why should I go to church? I just get called out to deal with my own child so I might as well stay home." Thankfully more and more special needs ministries are cropping up now. However, church leaders and...
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Re: from my blog... Creating Communities of Hope for those with ACEs
Upcoming Seminar on June 7th in Burton, MI about the compelling epidemic of child sexual abuse. This seminar is for leaders in the church and in the community.
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Re: Drawing connections, building empathy and resilience in traumatized children
Thanks for sharing these ideas to create a space for God in trauma-informed care. I am also working on creative thoughts and ideals for faith-based TIC.
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Re: Examples of churches, temples, synagogues, mosques, and other faith communities practicing child trauma prevention and intervention?
We are trying to put together a day focus event for a longer Child Abuse Conference for faith based communities in OKlahoma. If you would give us an update on your forum or surveys that you have learned about faith base qroups and what they would like to know and hear more about on the topic. I could find very little on the subject besides Chris Haughee's curriculum for high school. Margie
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Re: The Power of a Trauma-Informed Ministry
Hello all! I'm very interested in getting trained. I run an organisation in Zambia that helps adult survivors of Child sexual abuse find healing. And i believe this training will really help us. Is it possible to get a schedule of the trainings, so that I can plan on when to attend?
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Re: Trauma-informed churches
The church needs to go where the traumatized, abused or neglected child is and not expect the church walls to magnetically attract them to the church property. People make up the church.
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Re: The Need for Trauma-informed Education During Seminary
Thanks for the mention of the post on trauma -informed churches that I wrote. I can't wrap my mind around why ministers and seminaries are not engaging in this conversation and training their people. I too believe that early trauma is trauma to the spirit and the heart. Churches could do so much to soothe the trauma the little ones are experiencing. I see this all the time in my DC4K, DivorceCare for Kids, group. Just last night in my group 2 little girls really opened up. They laid it all...
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Re: The Need for Trauma-informed Education During Seminary
Most people will have prior existing traumas. Sometimes, these are triggered by authority figures (e.g., ministers), regardless of the authority figure’s intention. Sometimes, these traumas are triggered when interpersonal or organizational boundaries are confusing. In addition, sometimes the trauma that individuals carry are directly related to religious or spiritual abuse. Not surprisingly, authority figures and structures that highlight authority will frequently be questioned, attacked,...
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Re: The Need for Trauma-informed Education During Seminary
Thanks for the comment Jaime and your commitment to make a difference. Let's see what kind of momentum we can develop on this issue! ~ Dale
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Re: The Need for Trauma-informed Education During Seminary
Kimberly, I'd be interested also. I'll email you. My work has been with children's ministers and I speak at several national children's minister's conferences. They get concerned when a child's behavior is out of control. They get concerned when there are bruises. They get concerned when a child is leaning toward suicide and makes it known. I've been working with churches for over 10 years and I feel like I'm saying the same thing over and over but no one is really listening. I've given out...
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SAMHSATIApproach.pdf
Blog Post
Forsyth County Trauma Informed Care Network
The Forsyth County Trauma Informed Network is taking great strides into recognizing and addressing community post Covid-19 impacts. PowerPoint attached.
Blog Post
What Do We Do? What Do We Do Now?
People’s response to the great chasms of structural inequities glaringly laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic have been further inflamed by the murder of George Floyd and deaths of other African Americans in recent weeks. The acute emergency of the pandemic has eased, but the violence inflicted on racial minorities and now those who are protesting the inequities in our society has compounded the outrage. Right after the pandemic began running riot across the US, I often heard people ask: When...
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ACEs Champion Danette Glass says COVID-19 increases the need for trauma-informed communities
Glass’s mission has always been to protect and foster the practice of nurturing children. That’s because she herself experienced at least five types of adverse childhood experiences, as measured in the original CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study). If the scale could account for childhood adversity such as structural racism and community violence that’s more likely to occur in communities of color, her burden of ACEs is higher.
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Strengthening Families During Covid-19 [positiveexperience.org]
Guest Author, 6/17/20, positiveexperience.org Today’s post is based on an interview with Rev. Darrell Armstrong, pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church of Trenton, NJ for the past 20 years. He is considered a national leader on issues pertaining to child welfare and family strengthening. Most questions contain links to video excerpts of the original interview. To watch, click the link on the corresponding question. Introduce yourself to our blog readers? My name is Darrell Armstrong. I’m in my...
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A Better Normal Tuesday, June 30th at Noon PDT: Reinterpreting American Identity, a Community Discussion
"I think that all of us, regardless of our racial or ethnic background, feel relieved that we no longer have to deal with the racism and the sexism associated with the system of slavery. But we treat the history of enslavement like we treat the genocidal colonization of indigenous people in North America, as if it was not that important, or worse, as if it never happened." —Angela Davis, "The Meaning of Freedom" Please join us for the ongoing community discussion of A Better Normal, our...
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Resilience for Children & Families: Being Brave When Things are Hard
Building Resilience with Children During Racial Discrimination & Violence: This attached Resilience Brief for Children has been the hardest one I have written yet. I have been an active advocate for the equal treatment of people from all backgrounds, religions, ethnic heritages, orientations, and families my entire life. It is hard to see the pain present today, not only due to COVID19 but also due to the harm and anger we see daily in the news. I want to share a story about the person...
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Help Navigating the Road to Community Resiliency
The first time I ever heard the words trauma-informed care and the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study was in the summer of 2014. At the time, I was working for the local Police Department as the Director of a grant-funded Crime Reduction Project aimed at reducing drug-related and violent crime. Of the many program goals, one was to develop a rehabilitative corrections program for felony offenders with addictions in order to reduce recidivism. Though I’ve lived in this region for...
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Do safe, stable, and nurturing relationships work? New research has important findings for responding to ACEs
While we know that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can cause risk behaviors, research has told us that the presence of protective factors can help mitigate the effects of ACEs. Common risk behaviors such as smoking tobacco and alcohol misuse can be a result from the trauma of childhood disadvantage. In responding to ACEs, public health research proposes that protective factors such as safe, stable, nurturing relationships (SSNRs) with a caring adult can mitigate the long-term effects of...
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Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network, first to join ACEs Cooperative of Communities, shows what it means to ROCK!
In 2012, Greater Richmond SCAN and five other community partners hatched a one-year plan to educate the Richmond, Virginia, community about ACEs science and to embed trauma-informed practices. Eight years later, the original group has evolved into the Greater Richmond Trauma-Informed Community Network (GRTICN) with 495 people and 170 organizations. And they're just scratching the surface.
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Donald Trump is the product of abuse and neglect. His story is common, even for the powerful and wealthy.
“In order to cope,” writes Mary Trump, “Donald began to develop powerful but primitive defenses, marked by an increasing hostility to others and a seeming indifference to his mother’s absence and father’s neglect….In place of [his emotional needs] grew a kind of grievance and behaviors—including bullying, disrespect, and aggressiveness—that served their purpose in the moment but became more problematic over time. With appropriate care and attention, they might have been overcome.”
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Trauma-informed policing: Learn how three highly experienced community leaders strengthen ties between police and community
ACEs initiative participants in communities where there is tension between the community and law enforcement will want to join Becky Haas in a compelling conversation on law enforcement, ACEs science, COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement and protests. Haas is a nationally recognized adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) science initiative builder and trainer. She and colleagues Renee Wilson-Simmons, the head of the ACE Awareness Foundation of Memphis, Tennessee, and Maggi Duncan,...
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Baby courts: A proven approach to stop the multigenerational transmission of ACES in child welfare; new efforts to establish courts nationwide
The organization Zero To Three estimates that in the U.S., a child is taken into the child welfare system every six seconds. “Many of society’s most intractable problems can be traced back to childhood adversity. Being in the child welfare system increases the likelihood of more adversity and criminality. Baby court is a proven approach to healing the trauma of both child and parent, and breaking the cycle of maltreatment,” says Mimi Graham, Ed.D ., director of the Florida State University...
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My Abuse In Christian Settings
Sixty years ago this summer I told. My parents fought to have my perpetrator removed from the organization - to no avail. They were accused of being the ones with the problem because they could not forgive, forget and move on. Thank God, my parents did move on. They left that group. Their belief in me and their sacrificial actions gave me the foundation to thrive. However, the abuse became flesh and dwelt inside me and for decades I suffered great gynecological problems. Recent studies link...
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A Shadow ACE in Christian Babycare
As a former La Leche League Leader I became familiar with the teachings of Gary Ezzo (“Raising Kids God’s Way,” "On Becoming Babywise") in the early 1990’s. Leaders in my area began getting a lot of phone calls on our warm line that followed the same basic story: a baby not thriving and a case of very low milk supply despite the Mom’s exclusive breastfeeding and a strong desire to breastfeed. It gradually emerged that a local church had begun promoting a rigid rules-based practice of baby...