Tagged With "ACEs Work"
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Community Conversations Beginning in Crow Wing County
As part of the ongoing effort to develop Self-Healing Communities, residents in Brainerd are coming together for community conversations to talk about their needs and develop communal strategies. Watch a video below and read the full article from PBS here!
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Exciting Upcoming Events in Minnesota!
Midwest ACE Summit | November 10-11, 2016 Eagan, Minnesota | Click here for more information You have likely already heard about the Midwest ACE Summit from previous posts in this group. What you haven't heard is an exciting update about the event -- Laura Porter of the Foundation for Healthy Generations in Washington will be facilitating the final plenary session at the Summit! This rounds the keynote speakers out to four: Sam Simmons, Dr. Henry Emmons, Dr. Roy Wade, Jr. and Laura Porter.
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"Faces of ACEs: The Lifelong Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences" Conference 2019
Friday, April 12, 2019 marked an exciting, auspicious, and perhaps pivotal day in the history of Monroe County, Indiana. That’s a lot of adjectives—and pressure—to pile onto just another glorious spring day in Bloomington. But I think many folks who virtually congregate on a site that supports communities implementing trauma-informed and resilience-building practices grounded in ACEs science would agree that a county’s first-ever ACEs conference deserves a little ballyhoo. But this ACEs...
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Feature: Central Minnesota ACEs Collaborative
Sometimes the problem is so big we struggle to see how we can make a difference. It is like that first step you take at the base of the mountain. You know it is the first of many. You know that you have a long way to go to the finish. It is easy at that point to get discouraged; to feel helpless; or even to deny your ability to actually do what was set out to be done. You may want to quit or you do quit! Mother Teresa said, “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the...
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Finding My Own Meaning Through REACH Stewartville
My own history of ACEs is too long for this blog post, but I have a score of 8/10. What is important though is that this score has brought me strength, purpose, and direction as my position of REACH Program Coordinator at Stewartville Middle and High School in Stewartville, MN. I grew up in Stewartville and am now raising my family here. REACH stands for Relationships, Education, Accountability, Character, and Hard work. REACH is an elective class offered to students in grades 7-12. Students...
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From Trauma to Resilience training in Minneapolis, MN
Only 15 SPOTS remain for our training, From Trauma to Resilience: Fostering Hope Through Trauma-Informed Care! On September 27, participants will come together for our day long comprehensive training. This training is designed to assist participants in developing their unique skillset needed to support individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and traumatic events. Objectives: Increase awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and impact on well-being. Explain...
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Growing Up in Today's World is NOT Easy: One Student's Story
Growing up in today's world is NOT easy. I have heard hundreds of students tell me this. Despite this fact, many of them have also told me that many of the adults in their lives don't seem to understand this, including parents, teachers, and society. Adults who are disconnected from the reality of the lives of the youth that they are around will not be able to completely understand how to provide the support that might be needed for those youth needing it most. I recently met a young woman...
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Harvard Infographic on ACEs and Toxic Stress
This was just posted by Harvard. I thought all of us could use access to it, for use in our schools and the settings we work in. The full image is on the attached PDF.
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Help #GreatChildhoods Happen This April!
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, a national month dedicated to recognizing the ways that people can get involved in the healthy development of children. Prevent Child Abuse America and Minnesota Communities Caring for Children are spreading the message that everyone plays a role in helping great childhoods happen. Get involved with child abuse prevention by taking part in activities like mentoring children and parents, advocating for family-friendly policies, and donating time and...
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Helping Students Overcome Toxic Stress through Science-Based Teaching Practices (stresshealth.org)
“What our students really crave the most is predictability from the adults interacting with them,” says Roger Sapp, a student success teacher at KIPP. For that reason, the one-on-one session is not a reward for being “good” or withheld if something bad happens. The kids who need it can count on it – every day. The scene is from a video by Edutopia (aka the George Lucas Educational Foundation), which has produced a series of more than 20 powerful, engaging shorts on how children learn in...
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Hi!
Hello Minnesota ACEs Action! As your Regional Community Facilitator, I am excited to work together. I have an affinity for homegrown movements. I, myself, am a part of a thriving collective impact in Nashville, TN called ACE Nashville. I have extensive experience creating a local movement and I hope I can be a resource for you, not just on ACEs Connection but also with your efforts within your cities and communities. I have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to collective impact and...
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Hiring: Director of ACE Collaborative Partnerships
Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that empowers parents and builds the capacity of communities to create environments where all children thrive. Our mission is to empower parents and communities to build supportive relationships, nurture children, and prevent child abuse and neglect. Interested in helping MN Communities Caring for Children carry out our mission of empowering individuals and communities to stop child abuse and neglect...
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Hiring: Evaluation and Community Education Manager
Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) is a statewide nonprofit organization that empowers parents and builds the capacity of communities to create environments where all children thrive. Our mission is to empower parents and communities to build supportive relationships, nurture children, and prevent child abuse and neglect. Job Profile The Evaluation and Community Education Manager is responsible for coordinating the organization’s ACE Interface training program and network of...
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How childhood stress can knock 20 years off your life [The Guardian]
T here is a scene in James Redford’s new film, Resilience , in which a paediatrician cites a parental misdeed so outmoded as to seem bizarre. “Parents used to smoke in the car with kids in the back and the windows rolled up,” she says, incredulous. How long ago those days now seem; how wise today’s parents are to the dangers of those toxins. Yet every week in her clinic in the Bayview-Hunters Point area of San Francisco, children present with symptoms of a new pollutant – one that is just as...
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How To Apply The Brain Science Of Resilience To The Classroom [NPR]
Neuroscience isn't on many elementary school lesson plans. But this spring, a second grade class at Fairmont Neighborhood School in the South Bronx is plunging in. Sarah Wechsler, an instructional coach with wide eyes and a marathoner's energy, asks the students to think about the development and progress that they've made already in their lives. "You probably don't remember, but there was a time when you didn't know how to speak and you were just like 'Wah wah wah blah blah blah, mama,...
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In Minnesota, Recruitment of Native American Foster Homes Stymied by ‘Lifetime Prohibitions’ [Chronicles of Social Change]
by Christie Renick "Shana King, a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, spent more than three years in foster care as a teen. She lost her own children to the system during a struggle with heroin. Since then, she has gotten her children back, bought a home, and received a national award for her work as a mentor. She badly wants to be a foster parent to American Indian children in Hennepin County, Minnesota's most populous metro area. But because of the drug history, the county...
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Introducing Emily Clary, MCCC's Director of ACE Collaborative Partnerships
Emily Clary is responsible for helping develop and coordinate the ACE Interface training and Self-Healing Communities partnership with the Children’s Mental Health and Family Services Collaboratives across the state. Emily holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Sociology from Beloit College. Emily is deeply committed to sharing research about Adverse Childhood Experiences and...
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Introducing Francheska Salcedo, MCCC's Program Assistant
Francheska has a passion for people owning their stories and believing that everyone deserves to be heard. It is clear that Francheska shares many values with the organization including a desire for social justice. We're pleased to have her coming on board. My name is Francheska Salcedo and I am the new Program Assistant for MCCC as of July 5th,2017. After working with MCCC as a temp and attending one of the PLCSP meetings, I knew I wanted to continue to work for this organization. I was...
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Introducing Linsey McMurrin, Regional ACE Training Coordinator
Linsey McMurrin is an enrolled member of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She is an organizer of the Bemidji Area Truth and Reconciliation Initiative, a grassroots effort to promote truth-seeking, healing, and change through increasing understanding and building relationships among area indigenous and non-indigenous communities. She is a strong advocate of social justice and community driven work, and believes that the development of cultural, social, and emotional competencies is integral to...
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Join Us for Our April Imagine If ...Breakfast!
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, so Imagine if... all parents had the knowledge and skills to nurture their children. In just one hour, YOU can help us support and empower parents to be the best caregivers they can be. The Imagine if... Breakfast is an opportunity to be a part of MCCC's life-changing work and support Minnesota families on their paths toward resiliency. You will hear from program participants and see the impact we are having on the lives of parents and...
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Keep Talking! Someone Will Listen!
I would like to share some learning opportunities with you. Share these with all who will listen. REACH Stewartville learned last week that we will be receiving a Star of Innovation Award at the 2017 Minnesota Association of Secondary School Principals Summer Conference at Breezy Point Resort this June. We will also be doing 2 presentations at the conference on June 14th. Encourage school administrators in your area to attend this conference to learn more about ACEs and how REACH...
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Know an Organization that Deserves to be Honored?
16th Annual Minnesota Pinwheels for Prevention Awards April is Child Abuse Prevention Month! Each year, we spotlight tribes and communities statewide that have consistently worked to create safe and healthy environments for children. The Pinwheels for Prevention Award recognizes their commitment to prevent child abuse and neglect through collaborative efforts. Work at the community level is crucial for ensuring that Minnesota families and children are able to thrive. Please submit...
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Life Expectancy by Zip Code: Where You Live Affects How Long You Live
Life expectancy is highly correlated with ACE scores and complex childhood trauma. Enter your address or zip code to know what the health outcomes are in your neighborhoods and communities. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Life Expectancy Calculator
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The 2016 Midwest ACE Summit
Thank you to those who attended the 2016 Midwest ACE Summit! At the event nearly 300 people came together to learn about how communities are addressing ACEs and promoting healing in Minnesota and across the Midwest. We hope that participants were energized by the stories they heard and inspired about what can be done to foster resilience and healing in their own communities. Attached to this post are the Summit agenda and breakout session descriptions for your reference. Resources shared at...
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Minnesota Budget Change Item for the Department of Human Services: Build Community Capacity to Address Adverse Childhood Experiences
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton approved a $796,000 program Build Community Capacity to Address Childhood Experiences (attached) to support Children’s Mental Health Collaboratives and Family Services Collaboratives in their local efforts to...
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MN Research: The Value of Understanding ACEs
Over the past three years, Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) has worked to raise awareness about brain development, ACEs, and resilience statewide using the national ACE Interface curriculum. To date the organization has trained more than 130 Minnesotans from diverse communities to present this curriculum and help foster community responses. This summer, Maxine Freedman of Macalester College interviewed 29 members of MCCC's network to assess the impact of this work on...
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MN Trauma Project aims to increase understanding of how past experiences shape our lives today [MinnPost.com]
Many people experience trauma, but few — and that includes medical professionals — understand the larger impact it can have on their lives and the lives of others. Ryan Van Wyk, a psychologist at Park Nicollet Melrose Center , wants to change that. He believes that past trauma lies at the root of many common mental health and addiction issues, and if more people understood that fact and worked to heal trauma, many could live happier, healthier lives. “My graduate school was great,” Van Wyk...
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"Moving from Understanding to Implementing Trauma-Responsive Services" Takeaways from SAMSHA Forum in Johnson City 9.5.19
Speakers and guests at the SAMSHA Forum included (l-r) Mary Rolando of the Department of Children's Services; Chrissy Haslam, First Lady of Tennessee; Dr. Joan Gillece, SAMSHA Center for Trauma Informed Care; Dr. Andi Clements, East Tennessee State University; Becky Haas, Johnson City Police Department; Carey Sipp, ACEs Connection, and Robin Crumley, Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County. It was easy to be both inspired and a bit overwhelmed at the Substance Abuse and...
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National Council for Behavioral Health Conference #NatCon19
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the annual National Council for Behavioral Health Conference. I have been to my fair share of conferences but #NatCon19 was one of the best. First, I'm biased. It took place in my city, Nashville, TN . And the venue was the world renowned Opryland Hotel's Gaylord Convention Center . And, I love, love, love the Opryland Hotel ! As any seasoned conference goer, I had a strategy when it came to which sessions and events I wanted to attend. My game...
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New Community!!! Ardmore OK Behavioral Health Collaborative
I'm excited to announce the newest ACEs Connection geographic community for my region, the Midwest & TN: Ardmore OK Behavioral Health Collaborative . This community is a partnership of local organizations taking a trauma-informed stance on behavioral health in Carter County, OK. Their goal is to build a healthy, connected and resilient community. The community manager is Ashley Godwin . Ashley Godwin joined Ardmore Behavioral Health Collaborative in March 2017 as the Director where she...
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New East Metro Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Presenters
On April 26th and 27th, sixteen immigrant community members and individuals that work with immigrant populations were trained as ACE Interface presenters through The East Metro Project this past April. This cohort is eager to raise awareness about the impact of ACEs and provide tools for building resilience in their communities. Below are some reflections from the cohort from the closing circle at the training: "This is info I wish I learned 10 years ago, I have interactions with foster...
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Nominate a Trauma-Informed Care Champion: #TICchampion
Becoming a trauma-informed organization requires clear communication about the transformation process, and support from staff at all levels of an organization. Often these efforts are spearheaded by “trauma-informed care champions”— individuals committed to raising awareness regarding the health effects of trauma and toxic stress and improving care for people who have experienced trauma. This week, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) invites you to recognize people around you who...
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Paper Tigers and Resilience Documentary Screenings in Stewartville
Paper Tigers and Resilience Documentary Screenings Stewartville High School Performing Arts Center Brought to you by REACH Stewartville, Olmsted County BRIDGE Collaborative, Rochester Area Fatherhood Network https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ olmsted-county-bridge- collaborative-amp- stewartville-reach-program- 12813118350 Paper Tigers Documentary Monday, January 22 nd , 7:00-9:00pm (film 7:00-8:30 with discussion to follow) Stewartville High School Performing Arts Center 440 6 th Ave. SW,...
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Paper Tigers Documentary Viewing in Stewartville March 6th
REACH Stewartville and the Olmsted County BRIDGE Collaborative would like to invite you to a free public viewing of the documentary Paper Tigers. This film shows how one school changed their approach working with students who have a high number of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). I highly recommend this film for everyone who works with students. See the attached flyer, the information below, and the Eventbrite registration link for more information about this film and ACEs. What:...
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Parent Leadership, Education, and Collaboration
Barb Sorum, Director of Prevention Initiatives- Southern MN Locations across Minnesota's southern region are diligent and focused on strengthening their communities. Olmsted County is determined to make significant changes to further support area families and children, improve and strengthen resilience, and create a community of healing. On Monday, February 6, the Olmsted County BRIDGE Collaborative hosted an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) community summit, Understanding ACEs: Building...
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Please Join Us for a QPI Event
Tuesday July 24 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Fostering Relationships Training with Carole Shauffer, Founder of the Quality Parenting Initiative Wednesday July 25 | 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Community Breakfast: First Year Celebration & Future Opportunities Maplewood Community Center 2100 White Bear Avenue, Maplewood, MN 55109 As a partner within the child welfare system, your voice and knowledge is a key to supporting the children and families. Traditional supervised visits can be stressful and...
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Portraits of Professional CAREgivers: Their Passion. Their Pain - FREE Screening for ACEs Connection Network!
I am excited to announce that ACEs Connection Network has partnered with the producers of the film, Portraits of Professional CAREgivers: Their Passion. Their Pain . to host a FREE SCREENING of the film for our members. If you have been t hinking of hosting a screening of CAREgivers in your community or are interested in learning more about secondary traumatic stress and what to do about it, join our ACEs Connection Network for a FREE screening of this film and a virtual chat with the...
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Positive Childhood Experiences offset ACEs: Q & A with Dr. Robert Sege about HOPE
Tufts University medical professor Dr. Robert Sege directs the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine and is nationally known for his research on effective health systems approaches that address social determinants of health. He is also the principal investigator for the HOPE framework (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences).The HOPE framework is based on research that shows how positive childhood experiences can mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences. Sege and colleagues...
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Positive Childhood Experiences offset ACEs: Q & A with Dr. Robert Sege about HOPE
Tufts University medical professor Dr. Robert Sege directs the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine and is nationally known for his research on effective health systems approaches that address social determinants of health. He is also the principal investigator for the HOPE framework (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences).The HOPE framework is based on research that shows how positive childhood experiences can mitigate the effects of adverse childhood experiences. Sege and colleagues...
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Propel: Resources for Youth Struggling with Substance Use and Their Families
The University of MN and Natalis Counseling & Psychology Solutions are partnering to provide two new drug and alcohol abuse prevention and intervention programs. The goal of the programs is to help adolescents and parents live a healthy and drug-free life. These brief, evidenced-based interventions (described below) provide a unique opportunity for teens and their families to develop skills related to problem solving, goal planning, and relationship building. For more information about...
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Putting the Power of Self-Knowledge to Work [New York Times]
Thirty years ago, the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Doris Lessing gave a series of lectures, later published in a book, “ Prisons We Choose to Live Inside ,” in which she reflected on the brutality in the world and asked how individuals and societies could evolve into something better. It’s a sobering book, but Lessing is hopeful — and her main source of hope stems from the capacity of human beings to study themselves and learn from their own behavior. “I think when people look back at our...
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Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz: Solving Poverty in Your Local Community (www.betterleadersbetterschools.com) & Commentary
Cissy's note: This is a great podcast for parents, educators, and community organizers and change makers. It is an interview with @Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz interviewed by Danny Bowers "Sunshine" of Better Leaders Better Schools . Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz says things like, " We all need each other. Everyone here is important," and " The community is who we are," but they aren't inclusive-sounding platitudes. She is a tireless optimist but also understands, personally and professionally, how...
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Reducing ACEs & Building Resilience in Washington State
Free Webinar With Lowell Johnson, ACEs Resiliency Coalition; Emily Clary, Minnesota Communities Caring for Children January 18 th , 9:00-10:30 a.m. CT Description: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE Study), released in 1998, confirmed that early adversity in childhood increases an individual’s likelihood for negative health, mental health, and social outcomes later in life. The ACE Study found that most people experience at least one of the 10 Adverse Childhood Experiences that...
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Reducing ACEs & Building Resilience in Washington State Webinar
With Lowell Johnson, ACEs Resiliency Coalition; Emily Clary, Minnesota Communities Caring for Children Learn about significant progress being made in reducing the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and early childhood trauma, through examples of some of the successes that three communities experienced in Washington State, and sharing conversations with people doing this work in Washington State. Watch the full webinar here
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Resilience practices overcome students’ ACEs in trauma-informed high school, say the data [ACES TOO HIGH]
Three years ago, the story about how Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tried a new approach to school discipline and saw suspensions drop 85% struck a nerve. It went viral – twice — with more than 700,000 page views. Paper Tigers , a documentary that filmmaker James Redford did about the school — premiered last Thursday night to a sold-out crowd at the Seattle International Film Festival. Hundreds of communities around the country are clamoring for screenings. After four years of...
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Resilience Screening at the Frozen River Film Festival in Winona, MN
Save the date, spread the word and invite your friends and family to the screening of the documentary movie Resilience! Frozen River Film Festival Harriet Johnson Auditorium 255 Main St Winona, MN 55987 Sunday, February 19, 2017 – 1 p.m. The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences can increase negative outcomes for lifelong health and well-being. This film focuses on strategies developed by professionals working in pediatrics, education, and human services to mitigate these impacts by...
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Resources from the 2018 Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Conference
In October, I attended the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Conference in San Francisco. It was really inspiring. Below please find share some of the books, videos, and resources that I learned about. All the best, Natalie BOOKS 1) The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity by Nadine Burke Harris, MD https://centerforyouthwellness.org/the-deepest-well/ 2) The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, MD...
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Save the Date for the 2016 Midwest ACE Summit!
The 2016 Midwest ACE Summit will bring people across the region together in shared learning that goes beyond the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study to focus on deeper issues of historical trauma and successful strategies for helping individuals and communities heal, build resiliency, and prevent future ACEs. We welcome your ideas for Summit presentation topics and presenters. To submit an idea or nomination, please see the form attached to this post. For more information about the...
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Re: Finding My Own Meaning Through REACH Stewartville
Great work! I'm an ACE Interface trainer in Winona, MN working on similar issues. Awesome to see the work that you do. Keep it up!--Ruth