Tagged With "Alive and Well Communities"
Blog Post
Movement-Making in Buncombe County (NC): Opportunity-Based Narrative and Creation Spaces
Mobilizing action can be intimidating. Creating a movement even more so. John Hagel provides the following definition of a movement: “an organized effort mobilizing a large number of independent participants in a grassroots effort to pursue a broad agenda for change.” He indicates that there are two key ingredients in movement making: 1) compelling narratives and 2) fostering creation spaces. In Buncombe County, we are experimenting with both of these notions. Opportunity-based Narrative A...
Blog Post
National Council Learning Community
As featured in the recent story on the San Diego Youth Services... They're holding open office hours this Friday: The National Council’s 2015 Trauma-informed Care Learning Community connects you with trauma ...
Blog Post
New bill to guarantee health care access to transgender foster children (kusi.com)
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — Transgender foster children would be guaranteed access to health care specific to their unique needs under a bill announced Monday by San Diego Assemblyman Todd Gloria. The Democrat’s bill would amend the list of foster youth rights to include “access to gender-affirming health care and gender-affirming behavioral health services,” such as counseling to cope with gender identity issues or gender confirmation surgery. That list includes such freedoms as accessing the...
Blog Post
New County Website, Connect Well San Diego, to Improve Customer Service (nbcsandiego.com)
The County of San Diego is currently developing a new website that will make it easier to access county services, by improving communication and customer service. A new county website, dubbed Connect Well San Diego will be up and running by 2017, according to County Health and Human Services. The website will take advantage of new technologies to create an electronic information sharing hub. The hub will allow County staff and contractors to communicate better with each other as well as...
Blog Post
New Data Show San Diego’s Low-Income Communities of Color Remain Among Most Heavily Polluted in California (environmentalhealth.org)
In early January, California released the updated version of its pollution-screening tool, CalEnviroScreen. The new data indicate that Barrio Logan, Logan Heights and National City remain among the top five to ten percent of communities in the state most impacted by pollution. Environmental Health Coalition (EHC), the only environmental justice organization in the San Diego region, says the most up-to-date information spotlights the neighborhoods that have long lived with an unfair burden of...
Blog Post
NEW Essentials for Childhood Kidsdata.org ACEs Topic
Hello, San Diego! Please see this exciting news shared by Gail Kennedy, MPH of ACEs Connection. This information was shared to the California ACEs Action group (original post is below). You can see how San Diego County compares with the rest of the state. Please share with others! - Jen Hossler "On behalf of California Essentials for Childhood, I am very excited to announce the release of a new Child Adversity and Resilience data topic on Kidsdata.org! This has been a collaborative effort...
Blog Post
New member! An introduction to me and type of healing I do
Hello! I'm Megan Caper a new member. I wanted to introduce myself and the healing work that I do to this community.
Blog Post
New North County Clubhouse Provides Mental Health Support (Live Well San Diego)
“It is very rewarding to see members build confidence and a support network free of stigma, and advocate for themselves for both their mental health and in their personal lives,” said Kelly Villa, Program Manager at Mariposa Clubhouse. “I also enjoy that they have ownership over the activities offered at the Clubhouse by providing suggestions and helping the program run smoothly by volunteering in various roles. I am always impressed with how committed members are to our program and to their...
Blog Post
New Resource on Secondary Trauma
Hi All, Just wanted to share a recent resource that we put together as part of our SAMHSA funded NCTSN grant. The Secondary Traumatic Stress in Child Welfare Practice: Trauma-Informed Guidelines for Organizations provides a wealth of information of how to address Secondary Traumatic Stress at an organizational level. While designed for Child Welfare, the information is quite applicable to other organizations. I have attached the flyer that has more information and a link to this free resource!
Blog Post
Now Hiring: ACEs Connection Network Southern California Regional Community Manager
OVERVIEW The ACEs Connection Network comprises ACEsTooHigh.com and ACEsConnection.com. The network is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the California Endowment and currently engages over 4,000 members. ACEsTooHigh.com is...
Blog Post
One year after release of PI framework, communities use it to address community trauma, promote resilience (PreventionInstitute.org)
In San Diego, a group is using the ACE|R framework as part of PI’s Making Connections for Mental Health and Wellbeing among Men and Boys initiative , funded by the Movember Foundation. Jama Mohamed, Program Coordinator for the San Diego initiative, describes how community environments can produce and exacerbate trauma among refugees: “When you look at a community that has actually experienced trauma, and you put them in an environment like this, it’s not for us to question their behaviors,”...
Blog Post
OurSOLES youth leaders led Trauma Informed Presentation before Educators and School Staff
OurSOLES (Our Students of Leadership ~ Empowerment ~ Service) high school students led an interactive, hour long Trauma Informed Presentation during Professional Development for Diego Valley and Diego Springs Public Charter School educators, tutors,...
Blog Post
Paper Tigers Screening 10/26/15
Paper Tigers, the documentary of the 1st Trauma Informed School in our nation, is being hosted by the Landmark Theatre in Hillcrest on Monday, October 26th, at 6.30 pm. FREE! Robert Redford's son, James, and his film crew followed...
Blog Post
Parent and Youth Leaders Educate Policymakers on ACEs in Sacramento on July 11th
Twelve parent and youth leaders, reentry and educational leaders, and community organizers represented the region of San Diego in Sacramento on July 11th. Aligning with about 80 other community members and professionals statewide, everyone met with and educated legislative staff on the impact of ACEs, community trauma, community healing and resilience building. Organized by the 4CA steering group led by Center for Youth Wellness, Children Now, and ACEs Connection Network, the ACEs science...
Blog Post
Parent Handouts updated and available In Dari, English & Spanish
The updated parent handouts are now available in Spanish as well as English and Dari. Here's the blog post with links to all three versions of each flyer. All versions of the Understanding ACEs and Parenting to Prevent & Heal ACEs parent handouts can be downloaded, distributed, and used freely. Both flyers were made with generous support from Family Hui, a Program of Lead for Tomorrow, who is responsible for making the Spanish and Dari translations available. These are updates of the...
Blog Post
Plan to participate! May 22, 2018 Policymaker Education Day in Sacramento!
Click this link to register and (if needed) request travel stipends ! Link to Registration Form Registration deadline is 4/30! Start brainstorming! Do you have a "Community Profile" from last year - please plan to update it! Please see attached examples from; - NCRC - Restorative Community Conferences Community Profile - San Diego Trauma-Informed Guide Team's Community Profile - SAY San Diego Community Profile - Youth Empowerment Community Profile - Youth Voice Community Profile ACEs...
Blog Post
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...
Blog Post
Program Brings Victims, Offenders Face-to-Face [Countynewscenter.com]
East County resident Debbie Newkirk was riding the trolley on her way to work one day in April when she noticed two teenage boys step into the car together, then sit separately. One sat behind her and the other across the aisle. Everything was fine...
Blog Post
Purple Glasses video produced by Teeland Middle School
This is an amazing video created and produced by jr high students and their teachers about being trauma sensitive. It was based on the Got Service video. It is well-done and quite impactful! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeRab5X3Mkg
Blog Post
‘Push Back’: Unified Schools Crowd Faces Down Divisive Fears (timesofsandiego.com)
Kevin Beiser acknowledged what brought hundreds of parents, teachers and students Wednesday evening to a dusty ball field in Old Town — the fear of “what it would be like in Nazi Germany.” But school board member Beiser promised the San Diego Unified School District would “push back” against enablers of hate. Trustee Richard Barrera noted a 950-word school board resolution approved last week “reaffirming values of peace, tolerance and respect for multiple perspectives.” (see attached)...
Blog Post
Behavioral Health Program Coordinator-15235503
The County of San Diego is currently accepting applications from qualified applicants for the position of Behavioral Health Program Coordinator (Retitled from Mental Health Program Coordinator)...
Blog Post
Berkeley Media Studies Group (BMSG) Blogging Tips and Talking about Trauma
Berkeley Media Studies Group facilitated a southern and northern California Strategic Communications Workshop in October 2015. Attached, please find their powerpoint, created by co-facilitators Julieta Kusnir and Pamela Mejia, titled "Talking about Trauma: Tips & Tools for Communicating Effectively" and "Blogging Tips for Media Advocates" articulating tips on content, headlines, length and tone of blogs.
Blog Post
Bill would give protected school leave to teen parents (k-12daily.com)
(Calif.) With an important legislative deadline quickly approaching, Senate education committee members passed about a dozen bills last week targeting topics including time off for teen parents, statewide assessment options and charter school transparency. AB 1951 would require the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to approve a nationally recognized high school assessment–such as the SAT or ACT–that districts can administer to students instead of the grade 11 California Assessment...
Blog Post
‘Blueprint for Action’ to improve health and well-being of families in San Diego (kusi.com)
There’s a plan to improve the health and well-being of children and families in San Diego and it’s called the “Blueprint For Action.” KUSI was joined by Chief Executive Officer of the “Clinton Health Matters” initiative — Alex Chan — with more. To view the 3-minute video clip, please click here.
Blog Post
Boston’s architect of community well-being: Pediatrician Renée Boynton-Jarrett
She talks with parents about the relationship between childhood adversities they have experienced and how that may have an impact on parenting.
“I frame things a bit more broadly than ACEs,” she said, “because I think it’s very important to reflect on a broader number of exposures than were covered in the original study, such as poverty or structural violence and racism.”
Blog Post
Broadening Your Network and Identifying Partners for More Resilient, Healthier Communities
Who should you partner with to create lasting change through resilience in your community? The Building Community Resilience (BCR) initiative aims to address, prevent, and reduce the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse community environments (ACEs) on children’s health and wellbeing ( The “Pair of ACEs” ). An essential element of the successes of BCR’s five test sites around the country has been strategic collaborations. In your work to build resilience, identifying...
Blog Post
California 2018 State Profile
Hi, Everyone: Here’s the state profile for California. To review the entire profile, open the PDF that is attached to this post. If you have corrections or additions, please leave them in the comments section of this post. We’ll be reviewing the comments regularly and doing fact-checks. The information you give us will also help us determine how to organize and expand the information in the state profiles. We will be turning this post into a living profile that, with your help and input,...
Blog Post
California issues update on state residents' ACE scores from 2011 & 2013 surveys
The latest adverse childhood experiences survey from the California Department of Public Health shows that 42% of the population has an ACE score of 3 or higher; 16% have an ACE score of 4 or higher. Those with an ACE score of 4 or higher are: 3x more likely to be current smokers 4x more likely to have a depressive disorder 2x more likely to have asthma 2x more likely to be obese 4x more likely to have COPD 3x more likely to have a stroke Here are a few other highlights from the six-page...
Blog Post
Call For Papers for the 32nd Annual San Diego International Conference
Conference submission deadline extended Now accepting submissions until March 14, 2017. To complete Call for Papers - BE PREPARED Have these ready before you start - you cannot stop and go back to finish later. If you stop, you will need to start all over again Speaker and Co-speaker Names Demographics Biography(300 words or less) Title of presentation Description(200 Characters or less) Abstract for Website (300 words or less) 3 Learning Objectives List of research or articles that would...
Blog Post
Carbajal Helps Local Youth Resolve Conflict Through Accountability and Communication (livewellsd.org)
For youth in underserved San Diego neighborhoods, Francisco Carbajal is a turnaround specialist. He has a gift for diverting at-risk students away from the juvenile justice system and toward a path to educational achievement and community leadership. Francisco manages the Restorative Community Conferencing (RCC) Program at the National Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) as part of the organization’s celebrated “Avoiding the Pipeline to Prison” Initiative. With strong support from regional law...
Blog Post
Central Region Leadership Team Meeting
Community-based organizations and community members were all in attendance at the Live Well Central Region Leadership meeting on Wednesday, March 16. During the meeting, we received updates from the health, safety, and thriving working groups. The Probation Department shared how it would screen clients using the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument. At this point in time hey have screened 40 youth and 4 have been further assessed so that appropriate services could be provided. I thought...
Blog Post
Changing Minds and Creating Trauma-Informed Communities Convenings - South and North
Last week, on two separate days in Los Angeles and in San Francisco, about 150 people (total) convened to listen and brainstorm about creating trauma-informed communities. Futures Without Violence, which is rolling out its Changing Minds campaign later this year, hosted both events. Some very interesting and important themes emerged from the two days: Residents with lived experiences should participate in the decision-making bodies of service providers and vested...
Blog Post
Cherokee Point Elementary Parent Leaders Newletter
Cherokee Point Elementary's Parent Leadership newsletter reflects their recent engagement within their school and greater community. Updating the teachers through this newsletter, their leadership continues to educate other parents at the school in addition to other engagement opportunities. Their passionate leadership inspires many others through their steadfast devotion of raising awareness of the impact of trauma and toxic stress as they inspire many through the understanding of building...
Blog Post
Cherokee Point Parent Leaders Inspire at Restorative Practice / Restorative Justice Summit in San Diego!
Cherokee Point Parent Leaders presented at the Restorative Practice / Restorative Justice Summit hosted by the Human Relations Commission and Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention in San Diego last Friday. Sharing their work over the past 5 years in two break-out sessions, they moved audiences with their compelling stories demonstrating how a trauma-informed community school can lead to transformative change for their children and families. Please see the attachment for more...
Blog Post
City camp could be San Diego's homeless solution (sandiegouniontribune.com)
The time has come for us to seek out a realistic way to manage our worsening problem of people living on the streets of our city and to do so in a manner that best serves our city’s entire population of 1.35 million. With this in mind, we propose the establishment of “Camp Hope San Diego” on city-owned land adjacent to Brown Field. Camp Hope San Diego — the vision forward: • No homeless camping or loitering would be allowed anywhere in the city of San Diego, except within the jurisdiction of...
Blog Post
Clinton Foundation, The San Diego Foundation, County of San Diego Launch Blueprint to Improve Health and Well-Being of San Diego Children & Families (clintonfoundation.org)
The Clinton Foundation, The San Diego Foundation, and the County of San Diego convened key thought leaders and local stakeholders to launch a detailed plan to improve the health and well-being of children and families in the San Diego region. This “Strong Families, Thriving Communities Blueprint for Action” focuses on increasing equity and effectiveness for families who interact with San Diego’s child welfare and juvenile justice systems by aligning policies, practices, and resources. For...
Blog Post
Community Impacts Chula Vista Through Volunteerism (Live Well San Diego)
On Saturday, October 20 th , I Love A Clean San Diego and the City of Chula Vista held a dynamic community cleanup event called Beautify Chula Vista Day, organized and made strong by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers. Celebrating its 16th year in 2018, this event has made an extensive impact on the City of Chula Vista as a whole, having reached over 12 focus areas with plans to continue on its path to make a difference for the future. Each year continues to be successful with the help of...
Blog Post
County Adopts Regional Plan to Bulk Up Services for Seniors [sandiegouniontribune.com]
By Charles T. Clark, The San Diego Union-Tribune, October 1, 2019 The San Diego region’s older population is growing rapidly, and the county has a plan it hopes will bolster services for seniors. County supervisors adopted a comprehensive regional plan, dubbed the “Aging Roadmap,” intended to meet the needs of older adults in the region and keep seniors in their homes as long as possible. The plan, created by staff in the Health and Human Services Agency’s Aging and Independence Services,...
Blog Post
County Offers Incentives to Landlords Who Rent to Homeless (eastcountymagazine.org)
If you’re a landlord looking for tenants, the County is offering bonuses of up to $500 if you’ll rent to a homeless family, veteran or other homeless person who has a rental assistance subsidy from the County of San Diego Housing Authority. The County needs help to house over 150 people with subsidies, but who are having a hard time finding a home. Landlord incentives include: $500 for the first unit rented to a person or family with a rental assistance subsidy from the county Up to $250 for...
Blog Post
County Plans New Live Well Center in Southeast San Diego (Times of San Diego)
The planned 80,000-square-foot Live Well Center will include services for families looking for medical coverage and food assistance as well as behavioral health, probation and child welfare offices. It will be the fourth such center opened by the county. The other Live Well Centers in Chula Vista, National City and Escondido aim to better serve county residents in accordance with the county's Live Well San Diego vision, which calls for access to healthy, safe and thriving communities. To...
Blog Post
Crisis Response Can Lead to Lasting Transformation (bettercareplaybook.org)
By Bruce Chernof, MD, President and CEO, The SCAN Foundation k Unprecedented times call for unprecedented action, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been quick to respond. In the last few weeks, CMS has issued an array of waivers and rules creating new flexibilities that allow health systems to respond to the growing challenges brought forth by COVID-19. These new flexibilities allow health systems to build off current capacities tested in recent years, as well as...
Blog Post
CYW releases "Children Can Thrive: A Vision for California's Response to ACEs"
The Center for Youth Wellness released a new report “Children Can Thrive: A Vision for California’s Response to ACEs”. This report is a follow up to last November’s Children Can Thrive Summit. ...
Blog Post
DA Announces Online Tool, Task Force to Address School Abuse Complaints [voiceofsandiego.org]
By Kayla Jimenez, Voice of San Diego, November 14, 2019 The San Diego County District Attorney’s office announced Thursday that it’s launching an online reporting tool for students, parents or school employees to report abuse in schools, as well as a task force to handle complaints. The move addresses some of the systemic shortcomings that have been revealed as part of a two-year Voice of San Diego investigation into harassment and abuse in San Diego County’s public schools. The new set of...
Blog Post
Do you live in Arizona, Hawaii, California, Nevada or the US Pacific Islands? Come to our no-cost mental and school mental health Winter Institute!
Do you live in Arizona, Hawaii, California, Nevada or the US Pacific Islands?If so...Check it out! 👇 NO COST. MENTAL HEALTH & SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE. AMAZING FACULTY. JANUARY 14, 15, & 16th! LONG BEACH, CA. JOIN US. 🤝 👏 Learn more here: http://bit.ly/mhttc-winterinstitute-flyer Register here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07egq2f9gaebafa6bd&llr=8wdk4ubab
Blog Post
Doing Good in San Diego: Chula’s Mission (timesofsandiego.com)
More than 300,000 American girls are growing up without their mothers, a situation that puts them at high risk for poverty, depression, substance abuse and even suicide. Chula’s Mission , a San Diego nonprofit, is the first to offer programs to help these girls, teaching them the same life skills that a mother would. Times of San Diego spoke with Lyndsey Ruiz, founder and president, about the organization’s mission and programs. What’s the goal of Chula’s Mission? The goal of Chula’s Mission...
Blog Post
Each Mind Matters: Raising Awareness For Men's Mental Health (livewellsd.org)
Traditionally, men are raised to be self-sufficient, tough, and to protect their family and property. But what happens when the strong protector needs help? Fear of appearing weak or vulnerable, being unable to meet responsibilities or serve the role they expect of themselves can lead men to feel that they are a burden and that those around them might be better off if they ended their life. Men are less likely than women to reach out to mental health professionals or even to talk about their...
Blog Post
Early childhood educators learn new ways to spot trauma triggers, build resilience in preschoolers
A hug may be comforting to many children, but for a child who has experienced trauma it may not feel safe.
That’s an example used by Julie Kurtz, co-director of trauma informed practices in early childhood education at the WestEd Center for Child & Family Studies (CCFS), as she begins a trauma training session. Her audience, preschool teachers and staff of the San Francisco-based Wu Yee Children’s Services at San Francisco’s Women’s Building, listen attentively.
Blog Post
East Region Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Focuses on Resilience, not Trauma (livewellsd.org)
San Diego grandparents who raise grandchildren had the chance to have fun, make friendships and build connections with others in similar situations at the Annual East Region Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Relative Caregiver Symposium, which took place on Saturday, April 6, 2019. YMCA of San Diego County’s Kinship Support Program partnered with 2-1-1 San Diego and the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency to host the free event which served nearly 200 grandparents and other...
Blog Post
Echo Conference Feature: Neuroscience & The Havening Techniques
At the Echo conference in Los Angeles on March 18 & 19, 2019 we will be showcasing many new and traditional ways to use the body to reverse the impact of trauma. One of these ways is Havening. During her workshop, Dr. Kate Truitt will explain how stressful events impact brain functioning and how the Havening Techniques harness the power of neuroplasticity to create sustainable healing. Her workshop will cover: Fundamentals of the Havening Techniques Key areas for fast and effective...