Tagged With "Choosing Love in Our Brave New World"
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Election is OPEN: Sonoma County ACEs Connection Steering Committee
Dear ACEs Connection Members, We would like to invite you to formally participate in the election process for the ACEs Connection Coalition Steering Committee. Please use this link to complete your e-ballot: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/scacelection Our next meeting will be on September 27th. We will be meeting at a new proposed time from 3:30-5:00 and currently in the works on a new location. Please note the following deadlines: September 8 - Elections Close September 27 – ACEs Connection...
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Eleven state-specific profiles feature ACEs-related data and ACEs/trauma-informed/resilience-building initiatives
One of the resources shared with participants in the Sept. 13-14 convening of First Spouses in Milwaukee to address trauma was a series of state information sheets that featured data on ACEs prevalence and ACEs/trauma-informed/resilience-building initiatives. These one-pagers provided a succinct summary of state highlights on trauma that in some instances were well known to the First Spouses but for others, provided new information. In partnership with state trauma leaders, ACEs Connection...
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Find out about events to observe the one-year anniversary of the October 2017 wildfires at SonomaCountyRecovers.org
You may have heard about a number of events that are planned around the county to observe the one-year anniversary of the October 2017 wildfires. A listing of these events can be found at SonomaCountyRecovers.org . The anniversary of our October 2017 fires is not just a typical day, it is a day where many may feel disillusioned and realize they are still working their grief. It is a day where while we might have to go to work, we have to remember to take care of ourselves and remember it is...
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First 5 CA 2018 Child Health, Education, and Care Summit - Call for Presentations Now Open!
Share Your Knowledge, Ideas, and Experience! SUBMIT PROPOSAL HERE First 5 California is now accepting proposals for its 2018 Child Health, Education, and Care Summit on April 10-12, 2018, at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale. Participants are eager to attend unique sessions that are innovative, interactive, and engaging . We are seeking sessions that delve into the Summit focus areas and goals with specific learning objectives. We hope you will consider submitting a proposal. Summit...
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First 5 Shares Resources for Local Families on New Webpage
If you found yourself searching for resources to help families of young children cope during disasters and traumatic events, please allow us to point you to a new comprehensive page curated by First 5 Sonoma County. http://first5sonomacounty.org/Resources-for-Parents/Coping-Resources/
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First health-related cost of ACEs study shows $113 billion price tag for California; just one ACE costs $28 billion
Researchers who have been looking for a way to quantify the health toll of ACEs in dollar terms, now have an example in a newly-released study of California. ACEs exacted a toll costing an estimated $113 billion annually, according to the study in the journal PLOS One. ACEs-associated cardiovascular disease was the condition that lead author Ted Miller dubbed “the giant in the room.” It accounted for $29.6 billion in spending, more than three times higher than the next ACEs associated...
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First Responder Resiliency Center is hosting a conference in Sonoma, CA on June 29-July 1
The First Responder Resiliency Center, a nonprofit organization, is hosting a Resiliency Conference from June 29-July 1. It will be held at Westerbeke Ranch in Sonoma, CA. To register: https://resiliencytrainingcenter.com/training/conference/june-2018/ The First Responders Resiliency Conference is a comprehensive event where participants will be asked to learn and participate in modalities designed to create new ways of thinking, processing and utilizing creative outlets to mitigate stress...
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For the January Meeting: This is Who We Are
Over the last several months, Sonoma County ACEs Connections (SCAC) has been struggling to develop organizational guidelines and committees. We have attempted to adopt them on several occasions but have not been able to agree on a plan. This has been especially frustrating for some of us, because back in November of 2015, SCAC voted to adopt a group of committees. For a variety of reasons however, folks keep wanting to reinvent that wheel. I am proposing one more attempt to discuss our...
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Free of Violation of Rights - Legal Imperatives That Could Address the Impact of ACEs
Last week, I took a call from a passionate suicide prevention advocate, James Gallant who wanted to discuss an approach for reducing ACEs. "Do you assess kids with disabilities for violations of their legal rights?" James asked. I was stumped at how to answer this, and didn't immediately see the connection to ACEs. But as James went on to share his expertise on the subject, I felt more compelled to find out what we are doing locally. James makes the case that kids with an ACE score of 1 are...
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FREE Train-the-Trainer to enhance resilience and meditation skills in a post-fire Sonoma County
A new coalition, the Sonoma County Resiliency Collaborative, is offering a free train-the-trainer taught by the Center for Mind Body Medicine. The training program is about the neuroscience of trauma (including new studies about the difference between men and women) with a focus on environmental disasters and trauma and the various techniques to heal from trauma, mainly training a cohort in different forms of meditation. If you weren’t able to join us on July 26 to hear about this...
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Free Webinar on 2/22: Telling the Story of Trauma and Resilience with Keith Hefner
Telling the Story of Trauma and Resilience A Thought Leader Conversation with Keith Hefner Free Conference Call and Discussion Thursday, February 22, 2018 2:00-3:00 PM EST There is a lot of good work these days to support adults who work with teens who have experienced trauma. But there is a dearth of trauma-informed stories and tools. Keith Hefner, Executive Director, Youth Communication, has made a career out of helping teens who have experienced trauma write their stories through...
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From Awareness to Action, with Voices of Lived Experience: Wisconsin’s Collective Impact Initiative
Perhaps it wasn’t the optimum time to update the network’s vision and values statements: a virtual meeting held in the midst of a global pandemic. But a record number of people—51, compared to the typical 30—tuned in for the May 1 Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health (OCMH) Collective Impact Council, and they gave the new values statement, which highlights inclusivity and collaboration, an enthusiastic thumbs-up. At the virtual table were members from key state departments—Children...
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Gabby Falzone translates the study of trauma [OaklandNorth.net]
When she was 12, Gabby Falzone and her family became homeless in New York. At 15, she ran away. She moved between squats and stints with her family, but said she suffered too much abuse from them to stay for long. At 17, she moved to Boston, where she said she survived by exchanging sex for rent. At 19, she got into a friend’s car and drove to San Francisco. Within a month, she said, she was shooting heroin. “I kept thinking that if I escaped where I had just been, it would get better, not...
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Got time for a little brainstorming with ACEsConnection?
On Friday, March 20, 2020, you're invited to join me to talk about how we, as a community, can continue to guide and educate ourselves about to deal with the effects of the spread of Covid-19, and how to continue those efforts with people who don't yet know about ACEs science. And, given this last week, how we can provide more support to stay in the front of our brains instead of feeding our amygdala.
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Gov. Newsom's early childhood advisor describes 'whole-child, whole-family, whole-community' strategy [edsource.org]
For the first time, a California governor has created a position in his office focused on early education. Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Giannina Pérez as his Senior Policy Advisor for Early Childhood. Peréz previously worked for Early Edge California and Children Now, both well-known children’s advocacy organizations. As an advocate, she worked to expand training for preschool teachers and child care providers to better support children who speak languages other than English at home. She also...
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Grand jury uses ACEs science to issue stinging critique of local health department
Editor's note: The Sonoma County Department of Health Services Public Health Department's response to the Grand Jury was filed in September 2017. It is attached to this post. The 2016-2017 Sonoma County (CA) Civil Grand Jury issued a remarkable report today. Tucked among the "Sales Tax Report" and "Elementary School Truancy" was — " Maternal Child and Adolescent Health: Caring for the Most Vulnerable ". The 10-page report casts an unblinking eye on the consequences of adverse childhood...
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Harvard updates their materials at Developing Child
Updated info on the developing brain and effects of early adversity. http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/five-numbers-to-remember-about-early-childhood-development/#cps Remember the video that said the child's brain makes new neural connections at a rate of 700-1,000 per second? https://youtu.be/_LRjK1pi03Q The Harvard Center on the Developing Child just updated their data: From birth, a child's brain makes new neural connections at a rate of 1 Million per second . Mind blowing!!!
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Healdsburg residents worried about lack of affordable housing, poll finds [PressDemocrat.com]
In Healdsburg, the priciest real estate market in Sonoma County, it’s probably not a surprise that housing tops the list of concerns for residents. A new poll found that more than seven in 10 Healdsburg residents are worried about the lack of housing for working families. Asked to rank the most pressing issues facing the city, housing costs and lack of housing options rose to the top in a city-commissioned poll conducted last month that also shows support for loosening the city’s...
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Healing with Yoga
Did you know that yoga can reduce stress and heal the mind, body, and soul? Let me explain how yoga can prevent, treat, and heal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and toxic stress. In my personal experience as a Sonoma County preschool teacher, I noticed many children, parents, and teachers in our program had very high levels of stress and anxiety. We all live busy lives and tend to focus on the next activity instead of the one at hand. So I decided to try yoga. I started doing yoga with...
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helping inmates with children transition back into society
October 28, 2015 UW team to lead research efforts on initiative for incarcerated parents Deborah Bach The University of Washington will play a key role in a new initiative aimed at helping inmates with children transition back into...
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Helping Young Children Recover after the Northern California Wild Fires
Helping Young Children Recover after the Northern California Wild Fires In the aftermath of the wild fires in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Solano countie s that started on Sunday, October 8, 2017, many children and their parents may be experiencing varying levels of distress related to events associated with the fires. The way in which this time of acute stress is handled can be very predictive of the long-term impact of the fires on each of us, especially children. The most important thing...
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Hidden in Plain Sight & Why Eliminating Health Inequalities Should be a Top Priority
Pete Golis wrote an editorial piece in this weekend's paper highlighting a local research brief of sorts many of us might never hear about, but all of us can benefit from reading. " Hidden in Plain Sight " (scribed by the Sonoma County Community Foundation) paints a picture of the "growing, graying, and diversifying" Sonoma Valley. The report introduction begins with this compelling invitation to consider the assets and challenges: "American philanthropy is in the midst of an historic...
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Highlights and Resources from the February 7, 2019 Strategies 2.0 Sierra Regional Learning Community: Promoting Resilience using a Trauma-Informed Approach, Emphasizing Partnerships with Behavioral Health Systems.
Growing knowledge and networks for professionals working with families The third Sierra Learning Community in the four-part Building Resiliency Series focused on: Promoting Resilience using a Trauma-Informed Approach, Emphasizing P artnerships with Behavioral Health Systems. Together we explored successful approaches to support the behavioral health needs of children and families living in rural communities. View the recording of the event by clicking here: 2.7.19 Sierra Learning Community...
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Holding Up our Leaders: Compassion, Justice, and Civil Disobedience in 2018
On Saturday, January 27, 2018 the Press Democrat featured an article entitled " Leaders Vow Protection " which showcased the voices of three committed Sonoma County leaders: Dr. Frank Chong (SRJC President), Dr. Judy Sakaki (SSU President), and Diane Kitamura (SRCS Superitendent). I clutched my newspaper in my hands, and swiped at tears of gratitude while I sat in awe of the leadership, compassion and dedication to justice our leaders bravely vocalized. Taking the concept of "sanctuary city"...
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Homeless students, destroyed campuses, ‘invisible injuries’: What California schools learned from recent disasters [edsource.org]
California schools ravaged by fire, floods and mud this year have mostly re-opened and are diving in to a new semester, but district leaders say they’ve learned some crucial lessons about handling natural disasters that all schools could benefit from. “A disaster could happen anywhere at any time in California,” said Steven Herrington, superintendent of the Sonoma County Office of Education, where two public schools were destroyed, nearly a dozen schools were damaged and hundreds of students...
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How collaboration helps clinic in San Mateo County, CA, tackle ACEs in children
Dr. Elizabeth Grady is a pediatrician at the South San Francisco Clinic, a community clinic of San Mateo Medical Center. She and Susana Flores , a senior public health nurse with San Mateo County Health, spoke with me about how the clinic and other health agencies in San Mateo have been able to craft ways to work together to prevent and heal toxic stress in children. Grady also talked about how she and Flores have been working with the Resilient Beginnings Collaborative (RBC), a group of...
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How do these pediatricians do ACEs screening? Early adopters tell all.
Last week, three pediatricians — with a combined experience of 15 years integrating ACEs science into their practices — reflected on the urgency they felt several years ago that prompted them to begin screening patients for childhood adversity and resilience when there was practically no guidance at all. Along their journey , they accumulated a list of lessons learned for other pediatricians and family clinics to use. The three pediatricians participated in the ACEs Connection webinar,...
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How Early Experiences Get into the Body: A Biodevelopmental Framework
Excellent graphic representation of the roots of early childhood experiences across the life course. Attached is a printable version. Copied below is one of several images from the document. " This biodevelopmental framework highlights the shared early childhood roots of lifelong outcomes in learning, behavior, and both physical and mental health. An integrated approach to addressing disparities in those outcomes offers a promising opportunity to devise interventions that attack societal...
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How Mindfulness and Storytelling Help Kids Heal and Learn by Juli Fraga
Here is a wonderful article by Juli Fraga that shares how REACH Academy in Oakland, California turned to mindfulness and storytelling to help kids heal from trauma. Research has shown that traumatic experiences can affect brain development and impact a child’s ability to relax and concentrate. Therefore affecting their ability to learn. REACH Academy noticed that their students needed tools to help regulate emotion. It took time for the students to adopt this new life skill, but once they...
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How Mindfulness and Storytelling Help Kids Heal and Learn
Here is a wonderful article that I read by Juli Fraga that shares how REACH Academy in Oakland, California turned to mindfulness and storytelling to help kids heal from trauma. Research has shown that traumatic experiences can affect brain development and impact a child’s ability to relax and concentrate. Therefore affecting their ability to learn. REACH Academy noticed that their students needed tools to help regulate emotion. It took time for the students to adopt this new life skill, but...
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REMINDER: SCAC Monthly Meeting 2.26.20!
This is a friendly reminder that our Sonoma County ACEs Connection (SCAC) meeting is today [2.26.20] at 3:30 . Please plan to attend, and bring a friend too! A simple agenda is attached and we can amend it when we come together today. Did you know that since our last meeting ..... Partnership Medi-Cal Managed Care announced an expansion of its substance use disorder services in Sonoma County. Plus, they are building a Wellness and Recovery Program in several N CA counties - but not yet...
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Report Rates Child Well-Being in California Counties [ChronicleOfSocialChange.org]
A new report from Children Now details wide disparities in children’s well-being across California’s 58 counties. The 2016–2017 California County Scorecard of Children’s Well-Being looks at a series of indicators organized around the three domains of child welfare and economic well-being; health; and education. The report provides a comparison over time for each of 28 indicators, as well as a breakdown by ethnicity on each data point for every county in the state. Children Now, an advocacy...
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Request for Proposal Announcement - Trauma Informed Care Consultant
Valley of the Moon Childrens Home is looking for a consultant to helpstaff transition to a 10-day stay shelter by 2017. Valley of the Moon wants to incorporate the latest research on trauma informed care intotheir program design and staff training. See attached documents for further details or contact: Briana Downey Program Planning & Evaluation Analyst Valley of the Moon Children's Center 112 Children's Circle Santa Rosa, CA 95409 (707) 565-4348 bdowney@schsd.org...
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Request For Proposal Resource Family Training Services
You are invited to participate in a County of Sonoma solicitation. Review this information and use the URL below to login and bid on this solicitation. RFP Resource Family Training Services Description: The County of Sonoma is pleased to invite you to respond to a Request for Proposals for Resource Family Training Services. The Family, Youth & Children’s Services (FY&C) Division within the County of Sonoma Human Services Department is seeking a single qualified entity to provide a...
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Resilience as a Vital Sign
Back in May 2012, the North Bay Biz Journal published an article called " Resilience as a Vital Sign ." This article takes on fresh meaning today, as Sonoma County moves on with our wildfire recovery. Dr. Kirk Pappas shares a compelling personal story, which led him to inventory what he called the “David Letterman Top 10 List of Ways to Build Resilience: The optimist question: When challenged, are you able to remain hopeful, visualizing good things instead of worrying about fears? The...
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Resilience Begins at Home
Retired Physician Sue Stephenson shares her recent experience at the Dr. Macy workshop offered by Hanna Boys Center. As I am becoming more involved in ACEs work, I realize that trauma-informed care and resilience begin at home. We were treated to an interactive seminar with Robert Macy, pioneer in the field of psychological trauma, psycho-social recovery and resiliency, on February 10 at Hanna Boys Center entitled "Can You Control Your Children?" The short answer was "No". We discussed...
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Resource List - Trauma Informed Approaches and Autism Spectrum and Other Developmental Disabilities
Resources for individuals, organizations, and communities moving along trauma and hope-informed pathways in order to: Prevent and mitigate adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Promote resilience and safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments. Promote equity and racial justice. Prevent substance abuse and promote mental health. … so that all children, youth, families and communities have equal opportunity for educational success, economic stability, health, and well-being.
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Resources to Support Wildfires Response & Recovery in Northern and Southern California
The National Library of Medicine (NLM) Disaster Information Management Research Center (DIMRC) has compiled resources to assist with response and recovery from the latest California wildfires. Information guides on disaster topics and the Disaster Lit® database provide access to curated, reliable information from vetted Federal, state, and local governments and organizations. Key National Resources NLM Fires and Wildfires Information Guide Content syndication —embed the content of this page...
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Revised Minutes of the SCAC Membership Meeting
Includes some clarifications and corrections of the recommendations, including more information about the source of the suggestions. (At the meeting, the initial survey results were shared but this data was not included in the summary of the recommendations.) Minutes of the SCAC Membership Meeting Present: Alea Tantarelli, Sal Strawbridge, Allen Nishikawa Location: Poppy Room, 490 Mendocino Ave. SR Date: Tuesday, May 16, 2017, 1:15-2:15 PM (slight adjustment in start time to accommodate...
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Road Map to Trauma Informed Care [Trauma Informed Oregon]
Programs, organizations, and systems that make a commitment to implementation will differ in many ways–from the service context, to the motivation for change, to hoped-for outcomes, and resources available. Nonetheless, in a developmental way, implementation moves through a number of common steps that we’ve tried to reflect in the Road Map below. The Trauma Informed Care Screening Tool (found below the Road Map) builds on the Road Map by delving into each phase and offering a series of...
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Roseland Library Lives On! [Sonoma County Gazette]
By Duane Dewitt, July 29, 2019 for the Sonoma County Gazette Roseland Community Library Will Live On into the Future Roseland Library will host a “Veterans Connect Pop up”Providing information about benefits available to them Thursday August 15 Roseland Community Library will live on into the future. “The Sonoma County Library has signed a six-year lease on a building at 470 Sebastopol Road, across the street from the current temporary library.” according to Ray Holley of the Sonoma County...
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RSVP now for HANNA SUMMIT! See flyer for details
Message from Brian Farraghe r: Good morning – I wanted to reach out on behalf of Hanna to let you know about a conference we’re hosting January 29-31, 2020 called The Hanna Summit: The Ecology of Resilience, Transformation Through Trauma-Informed Care. The Hanna Summit is an immersive three-day conference focused on learning and sharing new and proven approaches to trauma-informed care (TIC). Attendees will hear from leading TIC experts and participate in interactive discussions and...
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Safe & Sound: Integrating protective factors and ACEs science to end child abuse in San Francisco in 50 years
It was almost a ritual, but one that regularly disrupted the parenting class at a San Francisco-based child abuse prevention organization. Every time a siren blared in the streets below, a female participant bolted out of the room to seek safety in the windowless interior rooms of the multilevel labyrinthine white Victorian that houses Safe & Sound . Molly Jardiniano And it didn’t just happen in the parenting class. “When she heard the fire trucks, she said she would become paralyzed,...
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San Francisco Dept of Public Health Trauma-Informed Systems Initiative
I thought you might be interested in taking a look at the 2014 year in review from the SF Dept of Public Health's Trauma-Informed Systems Initiative. It's attached, below. The Department made the commitment to train all of its 9,000 staff...
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Santa Clara Supes put $200K Toward Pilot Program for Attempted Strangling Victims [mv-voice.com]
By Bay City News and Mountain View Voice Staff, Mountain View Voice, December 11, 2019 Santa Clara County Supervisors Tuesday allocated $200,000 to a new pilot program to help domestic violence victims whose partner tried to strangle them. The county will partner with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and the Santa Clara Police Department to respond to victims who are 12 years old and older. Law enforcement officers will ask victims if they consent to a hospital visit, and will be...
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Santa Rosa school embraces mindfulness to improve focus, boost grades (Pressdemocrat.com)
Lisa Moore rattled a rainstick before urging her Cook Middle School students to shut their eyes or look down. “Let what’s stressing your mind go,” she said between deep breaths. “As you breathe out, let all that stuff go.” Students exchanged glances. Some giggled, distracted by classroom visitors. Ultimately, the eighth-graders sank into their seats, closed their eyes or looked at their feet as their teacher’s soothing voice led them through their afternoon “mindfulness” session. Twice a...
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Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership Strategic Plan Indicators and Related ACEs Connection Stories
*I apologize for the wonky font/format. Please see attached doc for a clean version and check out the full Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership Strategic Plan here . Indicator: Increase opportunities for youth and adults to participate in...
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Save the Date! Building Human Resilience for Climate Change in California Conference January 24-25, 2018
Wednesday-Thursday, January 24-25, 2018 The California Endowment's Oakland Conference Center Registration Opens July 1, 2017 Flyer attached Why Attend This Conference? Trauma and toxic stress affect many people today in the California. The acute disasters and chronic stresses generated by climate change can aggravate many of these ongoing adversities, and create altogether new ones as well. The result can be rising mental health problems including severe anxiety, depression, PTSD, and...
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SCAC meeting notes for 8.28.19 community meeting
*BOLD BLUE text = hyperlink to more information *pdf attached ACEs Enthusiasts Community Meeting *4th Wed of each month August 28, 2019, from 3:30 to 5:00 Location: Child Parent Institute / Sonoma County ACEs Connection About us: We bring the community together to prevent, heal, and treat ACEs while promoting resiliency. Sonoma County ACEs Connection has a fresh focus in 2019 with an emphasis on community, while seeking opportunities to leverage and coordinate with others. Please join us!