Tagged With "Alternatives to Violence Project"
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Doctor-patient role-playing featured in ACEs Connection webinar
On an ACEs Connection webinar on Monday, Dr. Andrew Seaman, an assistant professor at Oregon Health & Science University, showed how he navigates his students through the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). And, in an unusual twist for a webinar, Seaman and O’Nesha Cochran, a peer mentor with the Mental Health Association of Oregon, role-played doctor-patient interactions to show how to develop the skills to communicate with patients with high ACE scores. About 90 people...
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Dovetail Learning's TOOLBOX a resource for schools seeking to be Trauma-Informed
Bryan Clement, Dovetail Learning, gave a compelling presentation to the ACEs Connection community coalition in late January. He began with a video showing how kids are putting social and emotional skills into action in their school settings (there's a version with Spanish subtitles here ): TOOLBOX clearly offers great tools for strengthening relationships between folks of all ages. It also provides the language and framework creating a strong relationship-based foundation for schools seeking...
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Dozens of stakeholders representing thousands of practitioners send public comments on Calif. ACEs-screening plan
Update: We posted this story on Tuesday evening and received a response from the Department of Health Care Services Wednesday that clarifies additional information. DHCS information Officer Katharine Weir said that subject to budget approval by the legislature and the governor: The reimbursement rate will be $29. Federally Qualified Health Centers will also be reimbursed for screening pediatric patients for trauma through Prop 56 funds and federal matching funds. In response to a question...
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DULCE helps pediatricians in Oakland, CA, prevent toxic stress in newborns
On a recent day in early March, Laura Lopez met a former patient of hers in the waiting room of Highland Hospital’s pediatric clinic in Oakland, CA. The patient had forgotten her Medi-Cal card and called Lopez asking for help. But in the brief conversation, Lopez, a family specialist with the DULCE program, learned about some dire changes in the patient’s life. Laura Lopez “Without me even asking, she shared with me that she had separated from her partner, that she needs to apply for food...
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The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Resiliency Fellowship Begins!
Tomorrow in Sonoma County, a constellation of passionate folks is coming together to begin an incredible journey of working to heal our community by addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences and promoting Resiliency. 60 folks applied and were selected to participate in the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Resiliency Fellowship. These local leaders will serve as community educators on the topics of toxic stress and resiliency. Some of the school counselors, peer advocates, home...
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The Economics of Child Abuse: A Study of California
While the impact of maltreatment on a child and their family is devastating, child maltreatment also has serious effects far beyond those for the victim. Maltreatment results in ongoing costs to taxpayers, institutions, businesses, and society at large. Local communities bear the brunt of these costs in the form of medical, educational, and judicial costs, though more tragic signs are seen in homelessness, addiction, and teen pregnancy. To create a concrete understanding of the widespread...
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The Schoolbox Project Trains Parents and Educators to Address Crisis in Sonoma County with a Trauma-Informed Approach
Live Oak Charter School in Petaluma hosted the Schoolbox Project on Sunday and Monday October 15 and 16 to help train and support volunteers, parents and educators in responding to the crisis in our community. Without an understanding of basic trauma-informed principles, there is potential for even the most well-meaning volunteers to engage in behavior that is overstimulating or even re-traumatizing to vulnerable populations. Dr. Gabriela Bronson-Castain, Clinical Director of the Behavioral...
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Trauma education and mindfulness help youth living amid gun violence
Armon Hurst, 2nd from left, first row, Teens on Target, courtesy of YouthAlive! Eighteen-year-old Armon Hurst serves as vice president of the student body at Castlemont High School in Oakland, Calif. He has a 4.0 grade point average, is an avid baseball player, and is slated to go to college next year. But until a few years ago, Hurst would find himself waking from nightmares in the middle of the night. It was difficult to concentrate at school, and he wasn’t eating well. Armon Hurst “There...
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Trauma-informed groups rev up to address race, inclusion
Eighteen-year-old Kia Hanson has always enjoyed her time as a youth leader at the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). She’s worked mostly with five- and six-year-olds since she began in 2016. Recently, she tapped into new skills, especially if the kids were having a meltdown. Kia Hanson “If they’re off, we ask them, ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Do you want to talk about anything?’,” she explains. “Basically asking before assuming they’re mad at the world for no reason.” What made the...
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Trauma Informed Pocket Card Inspires Praise from Community Member
Do you read the Press Democrat or the North Bay Business Journal? If yes, you may have seen Prevent Child Abuse Sonoma County's special newspaper insert. This colorful and helpful resource guide offered stories, tips, resources and tools for helping to strengthen families and reduce child abuse. Page 7 featured an article about "Trauma Informed Care" and included a pocket card folks could use as a tool for letting doctors, dentists, and other care providers they might need some extra care to...
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Trauma Informed Schools Webinar Archive
Did you see the September 22 webinar the National Child Traumatic Stress Network hosted? If you missed it look for it here: http://learn.nctsn.org/ The handouts are also attached. Policy Issues in Implementing Trauma-Informed Schools In this webinar experts will explore policy challenges and lessons learned in promoting and supporting trauma-informed schools. Speakers will share key NCTSN resources related to the development and implementation of trauma-informed schools; discuss the...
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Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program (SAMHSA)
Click HERE to learn more. Description The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Centers for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), are accepting applications for the fiscal year (FY) 2020 Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program (Short Title: Native Connections). The purpose of this program is to prevent suicide and substance misuse, reduce the impact of trauma, and promote mental health among American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN)...
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Upcoming events for Human Trafficking Awareness Month
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Here is a list of upcoming events that are taking place in our community to raise awareness. Heroes in Heels is a “fashion show,” where everyone must wear high heels (yes, even the men). The event will take place at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts on January 14th,2017 at 7:00 pm! Tickets include wine & brew pours and appetizers. Attendees will experience a memorable evening of socializing, a silent auction and a wine cellar raffle (4...
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Violence Profile of Sonoma County
Several months ago, the Violence Profile of Sonoma County was published online. The profile aims to deliver three messages: (1) Violence Impacts Health (2) Violence is More than Physical (3) Violence is Preventable In addressing these aims, the profile provides a strong explanation for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) having lasting effects on health and behaviors, including violent behaviors such as emotional abuse, intimate partner violence, and suicide attempts. The profile also uses...
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We Need a Healing Movement
What if you had developed a cure for the most painful and costly public health problem in America, you had proven that it worked, and you were offering it for free, but could not reach those who need it most because no one wants to talk about the problem? Tragically, this is my reality and the truth about human nature. It is easier to suffer in silence than acknowledge the painful things that happen to us. Over 20 years ago, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Kaiser...
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We, too, have that answer to ACEs!
Many of you were probably very intrigued by ACEs Connection member Roger Kluck's posts about a successful answer to ACEs. (Take a look at his posts, linked below.) I just got back from an amazing Alternatives to Violence Project workshop in Folsom Prison. The inmate participants found the workshop to be life changing. You can join a community AVP basic workshop this coming weekend in Santa Rosa and experience the changes in your life. Register soon! This opportunity might not come around...
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"What Happened To You? A Journey From Childhood Adversity to Resiliency" Explained by a Compelling Pamphlet
I found a manila envelope on my desk this morning. Inside was a heartfelt letter wrapped around a small stack of pamphlets. I can't remember the last time I held a paper resource guide in my hand, and there is something quite satisfying in this small, tangible resource. As I thumb through the pages, I feel myself drawn into a simple, relate-able story. I'm eager to keep turning pages and to discover how those of us with similar stories can find resources and support. "The pamphlet is...
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What Wildfires Do to Our Minds
A Northern California community offers mental health first-aid to survivors of devastating fires. Yes Magazine-- posted Aug 07, 2018 https://www.yesmagazine.org/ issues/mental-health/what- wildfires-do-to-our-minds- 20180807/ It’s late spring, and I’m hiking Sugarloaf Ridge State Park in Sonoma County with therapist, ecopsychologist, and California naturalist Mary Good. A mist is drifting down, and we have the park mostly to ourselves. In October 2017, 80 percent of Sugarloaf’s 3,900 acres...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Minutes 9-28-16
(Please see attachment for a colorful and engaging version of these minutes.) Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Today, we started the meeting with a mindfulness activity where we used our sense of smell and touch (but not sight!) to explore an object. Tuning into our senses is an easy mindfulness activity we can incorporate into our daily life. Ellen Bauer shared a brief overview of the “ Self-Healing Communities ” model...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 1-17-16
Dear Sonoma County ACES Connection Enthusiasts, Guess who is coming to our town? Dr. Macy is a tireless pioneer in the field of psychological trauma, psychosocial recovery and resiliency in research, interventions and violence prevention initiatives for children, youth, their families, and adults and their communities exposed to traumatic events including large-scale disasters, terrorist events, and political, school based, community and armed conflict violence. Check out his upcoming...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 2-22-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 02-22-17 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Kate Jenkins started us off with a prompt to learn five things about two of our neighbors in the room. This “mindful moment” encouraged us to focus on listening, while also paying attention to the different sensations that were occurring in our body and mind. Were we focused on what we wanted to...
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Sonoma County ACES Connection Meeting Notes from 4-26-17
(For a picture-filled and engaging version of these notes, please see the attachment.) 4-26-17 Dear Sonoma County ACEs Connection Friends, Thank you to all that participated in today’s ACES meeting. Holly White-Wolfe started us off with a meditation app (voice recording) that was shared at the MARC Gathering in Philadelphia. This “mindful moment” encouraged us to focus on our breath, noticing the rise and fall of our chest as a way to center ourselves throughout the day Nick Dalton from the...
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Sonoma County ACEs Connection Strategic Planning Session Update
Thanks to all of the members who contributed to our Strategic Planning Session on 6/29/16. The engaging agenda is attached to this post, as is the presentation on the scope of the problem of ACE's in Sonoma County. Our fabulous facilitator, Selena Polston (Innovation Team Program Manager for Public Health) captures some of our meeting highlights in these notes: ACES Connection Retreat: Developing a Vision Statement Wednesday, June 29, 2016 Elsie Allen High School What Makes A Great Vision...
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Sonoma County Data Dashboard: Child Adversity and Well-Being
A product of the Essentials for Childhood Initiative (EfC), the Child Adversity and Well-Being Dashboards contain indicators of child adversity, health and well-being utilizing data available on kidsdata.org . For more information about the dashboards, please refer to the California Data Dashboards page. The Sonoma County Data Dashboard contains select indicators of child adversity and well-being. The dashboard is a product of the Shared Data and Outcomes Workgroup of the California...
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Sonoma County Field Nursing was highlighted during 2018 ACEs Conference Project Showcase
On October 15-17, the Center for Youth Wellness in collaboration with the ACEs Connection presented the 2018 ACEs Conference and Pediatric Symposium. The theme this year was, “Action to Access,” and communities from around the United States shared current research, programs, tools, and initiatives that use ACEs science to address childhood adversity and its impact. The Sonoma County Field Nursing team was selected to showcase their work to address ACEs with caregivers during home visits.
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Sonoma County identifies site for village of tiny homes to house homeless [PressDemocrat.com]
Sonoma County is inching closer to erecting a micro-community of tiny houses for homeless people — a model that if successful, could be replicated on vacant lots and unused county land inside and outside city limits. The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday is set to consider whether to use a county-owned parking lot at its sprawling administration complex in Santa Rosa to house up to 12 small structures for two years. County officials have proposed locating the houses — which could...
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Sonoma County one of 14 communities awarded MARC grant
[Originally posted by Leslie Lieberman] Fo urteen communities from across the country now have an opportunity to expand their innovative work in addressing childhood adversity through a new project launched by The by The Health Federation of Philade lphia , with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The California Endowment. Called Mobilizing Action for Resilient Communities (MARC), the project supports communities building the movement...
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Sonoma County Resiliency Collaborative A Practical Approach to Post-Wildlife Resilience and Wellbeing
The traumatic events of the North Bay wildfires affect our emotional and physical health, social functioning, and overall well-being, both as individuals and as a community. Unresolved, they can damage our health and limit our potential to rebuild a strong community. Join diverse Sonoma County leaders and representatives to participate in dynamic workshop where you will practice tools for effectively addressing personal and team stress after the fires, network with peers, and learn about an...
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SonomaCountyRecovers: Official recovery information for Sonoma County fires
When we experience a disaster, people react with increased anxiety, worry and anger. With community and family support, most of us bounce back. Some of us, however, may need extra assistance to cope with unfolding events and uncertainties. Everyone, even the people that others look up to for guidance and assistance, is entitled to their feelings and deserves support throughout the recovery process. If you or someone in your care needs additional assistance recovering emotionally from the...
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White Paper: A Model for Strengthening Community in Trauma Affected Neighborhoods
This white paper published in 2014 by Bridge Housing Corporation in San Francisco, and the Health Equity Institute at San Francisco State University provides valuable information on how to strengthen trauma affected neighborhoods by utilizing the Trauma Informed Community Building Model. Community members living in low-income and public housing may experience cumulative trauma, resulting from daily stressors of violence, poverty, historical racism and disenfranchisement. By addressing the...
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Workshop hosted by Alternatives to Violence Project
With conflict all around us, where do you turn? AVP sees conflict in our country, schools, communities and even homes as fertile ground for creativity, peaceful cooperation and personal growth. And now you can too! AVP’s community workshops allow everyone to grow when it comes to their interpersonal skills, while having a good time. Get ready for focus on integrity, respect and shared humanity through interactive exercises, stimulating games and role-playing. You’ve got everything to gain,...
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You're invited: Saturday, June 25
On Saturday, June 25 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) and ACEs Connection Sonoma County are hosting an interactive conversation on Resilience at the First Methodist Stony Point Worship Center at 2150 Giffen Avenue, Santa Rosa. Please spread the word, come learn about ACEs and the Resilience Scale from our own Grace Harris, and experience AVP interpersonal exercises! Refreshments and socializing are on the agenda, too. We hope to see you there!
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Youth court banishes blame; leads with ACEs science
YMCA Marin County Youth Court in San Rafael, California In her opening statement, 17-year-old youth advocate Eva advises jurors how to proceed and summarizes her “client’s” good qualities. “As you will see, Julian is genuine, well-spoken and friendly. I recommend asking him about his friends and family, his future plans and his activities outside of school.” (First names only of all minors are used to protect their privacy.) Welcome to the YMCA Marin County (CA) Youth Court, one of 1,400...
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Youth-led community organizing as a tool for building resilience
It started as an answer to a youth-led campaign. Young people in arts programs in San Francisco Bay Area schools had produced spoken word videos about inequities in their communities that helped put them at risk for type 2 diabetes. Dr. Jean Junior The response by their peers was enormous, according to Dr. Jean Junior, who volunteered for the project as a pediatric resident at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). “Young people would say ‘You’ve actually gotten me interested.
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Re: San Francisco Dept of Public Health Trauma-Informed Systems Initiative
Our Director of Public Health read this report and is sharing it widely within our own organization. We just may embark on a similar project soon!
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Re: Artists in the ACE and Resilience Movement: Creative Avenues to Change
Thank you so much for sharing this, Clare. We held a workshop recently where some participants stated they felt very uncomfortable with art or who asked if they could leave early as the art project didn't seem as important as other work. While I don't begrudge anyone their own unique perspective and feelings, I feel like what you share here shows how art can be particularly powerful with healing trauma and celebrating resilience. Thank you for providing this stellar example!
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Re: Petaluma Health Center leads effort to link women to services
Thank YOU for YOUR work AND Rebecca Munger's work on this excellent evidence-informed tool that we are still using across our FQHCs in Sonoma County. Your work on this project has helped us collect valuable data on substance use, depression, intimate partner violence, and smoking amongst our most vulnerable pregnant women in Sonoma County. The data from this powerful tool is informing the clinical practice of providers across the county, our Maternal Child Adolescent Health home visiting...
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Re: Speak Up Pocket Guide- Responding to Bias Remarks
What a great tool. Printing it out, I'm going to share with Principal Higa at Cherokee Point Elementary and Principal Downey at Wilson Middle School for their discernment on school wide messaging. Maybe the youth leaders could support through a service learning project... Thank you Elizabeth for sharing this terrific resource!
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ACEs screening is about building relationships, says early adopter
Whether or not to screen for ACEs in primary care is an important debate—and I hear and respect the passion from both sides of the argument. I fall in the “pro-ACE assessments” camp, but with some important caveats. I think that assessments for ACEs are dramatically different from screening for autism or developmental delays. In my opinion, assessments for ACEs in primary care should be primarily about building relationships.
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Santa Rosa is updating its General Plan - and needs your input!
Help Shape the Future of Santa Rosa! Santa Rosa is in a time of incredible change. The recent fires, housing crisis, electrical grid blackouts, and calls for social justice and equality provide a backdrop for an immensely important discussion on how the City will grow and “bounce forward” to become an even more sustainable, resilient, healthy, and inclusive community. The City is updating its General Plan to tackle these and many other issues that are important to the community. How Can I...
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Santa Rosa receives nearly $26 million in grant money for housing, transit projects (Press Democrat)
By Chantelle Lee, June 25, 2020, Press Democrat. Nearly $26 million in state grant money was approved Thursday to fund several projects in Sonoma County, including new affordable housing in Roseland and an extension to the SMART system. The $25.8 million grant package was awarded to the city of Santa Rosa, SMART and Bay Area affordable housing developer MidPen Housing by the California Strategic Growth Council, a state agency focused on affordable housing and transportation. The state grant...
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ACEs Aware Grantees By County
ACEs Connection will begin highlighting ACEs and Resilience initiatives by county. We're starting this effort off by listing the recent ACEs Aware grantees by county.
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Friendly Reminder: our July meeting is Weds 7/22 at 3:30!
Please join our July Zoom meeting - all are welcome! If you prefer, there is a call in option too. ZOOM LINK or see calendar for more details. So much is happening across the county (and beyond) so maybe we can put our heads together and find ways to support this important work! See below for the draft agenda and the attached references: 1 OCAP released their strategic plan 2020-2025 2 MCH released a report on how health inequities emerge before birth 3 EfC just released Trauma Informed...
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CALQIC Announces Grantees for its ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative for 2020-2021 [careinnovations.org]
The Center for Care Innovations and our partners are pleased to announce the grant recipients of the California ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative (CALQIC). Led by the UCSF Center to Advance Trauma-Informed HealthCare in partnership with CCI, the California Office of the Surgeon General, and the Rand Corporation, CALQIC is the learning and quality improvement arm of ACES Aware, the initiative led by the Office of the California Surgeon General and the Department of Health...
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CALQIC Announces Grantees for its ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative for 2020-2021 [careinnovations.org]
The Center for Care Innovations and our partners are pleased to announce the grant recipients of the California ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative (CALQIC). Led by the UCSF Center to Advance Trauma-Informed HealthCare in partnership with CCI, the California Office of the Surgeon General, and the Rand Corporation, CALQIC is the learning and quality improvement arm of ACES Aware, the initiative led by the Office of the California Surgeon General and the Department of Health...
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Child Life specialists empower kids in hospitals, disasters and now the pandemic
In late May, Betsy Andersen’s 7-year-old son, Ezra, had a serious meltdown. He and his six-year-old sister Abby had been enjoying an online Zoom interaction with “Miss Eileen,” “Miss Savannah,” a couple of their colleagues, and a puppet. Betsy Andersen “I could see him trailing off and then he started crying,” says Andersen, who lives in Mundelein, Illinois. But before she swooped in, she heard Miss Eileen talking to him: “She was saying ‘Hey, I see you’re having some big emotions.” Speaking...
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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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Coping with Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: One-Pager
Coping with Stress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: One-Pager
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Sebastopol Peace Bag concept has spread to Southern California
Local Sebastopol non-profit Peacetown is spreading joy and community engagement through the Family Village's project called Peace Bags. Every week for 13 weeks a different local organization "sponsors" a week by providing printed resources and an activity that supports community connection, family engagement, and some fun. The bags are distributed for FREE in collaboration with a local toy store. I happen to come across a conversation on one of the posts I made regarding Peace Bags. The post...
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ACE Impact Team Aligns Efforts to Help Newark Residents Reach Greatest Potential
Five years of convening Newark’s ACE Impact Team has taught Keri Logosso-Misurell a crucial lesson: Fight the urge to reinvent the wheel.