Tagged With "American Rescue Plan Act"
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Add the Issue of ACEs to the Sonoma County Fire Recovery Plan!
As part of coordinating Sonoma County’s recovery from last year’s fires, The County Board created the Office of Recovery and Resilience. They are now in the process of collecting input on their first draft of a recovery plan. I attended the first of several community meetings on July 10 th , 2018. The plan concentrates on addressing five strategy areas; Community Preparedness and Infrastructure, Housing, Economy, Natural Resources, and Safety Net Services. As someone interested in ACEs and...
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Addressing Trauma and Building Resiliency as Comprehensive Disaster Planning and Response
The attached memo is intended to make observations about communities affected by disaster-related trauma, and to offer recommendations for trauma-informed recovery. Community examples provide case studies or models for other communities grappling with similar issues. Suggested resources and tools provide communities with support for accelerated action. Memo authors represent active cross sector networks that contribute to resilient community infrastructure development, awareness building,...
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Adult Reentry Grant Program (ARG): Proposals due November 1st.
The Adult Reentry Grant (ARG) Program was established through the Budget Act of 2018 (Senate Bill 840, Chapter 29, Statute of 2018) and appropriated $50,000,000 in funding for competitive awards to community-based organizations to support offenders formerly incarcerated in state prison. The Budget Act requires that funding be allocated as follows: -$25 million be for rental assistance; -$9.35 million to support the warm handoff and reentry of offenders transitioning from prison to...
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ANNOUNCING: $700,000 GRANT TO SONOMA LAND TRUST TO PROTECT CRITICAL OPEN SPACE LAND AT SONOMA DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER [CFSC]
By Caitlin Childs, June 26, 2019, Community Foundation Sonoma County We are so pleased to announce this wonderful news: Thanks to the vision of a family that cared deeply about the future of Sonoma County, the Sonoma Land Trust has received a $700,000 grant from Community Foundation Sonoma County and our regional affiliate the Sonoma Valley Fund to protect more than 700 acres of open space, trails and natural resources at the site of the former Sonoma Developmental Center (SDC). This grant...
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April 28th Mindful Educators Retreat
In support of the growing needs of our students and our schools, we are happy to announce our next retreat for educators, counselors, and parents... Mindfulness for Busy People: Finding Stillness Think you are too busy for mindfulness? Think again! CLICK HERE TO REGISTER In this nourishing retreat for educators, counselors, parents, and anyone working with youth, we'll explore mindfulness practices that fit into your daily life. Participants will learn how to cultivate an inner-resource of...
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Are We Crazy About Our kids? Documentary Short Film and Panel Discussion
Are We Crazy About Our kids? Documentary Short Film and Panel Discussion by Russian River Cradle to Career Collaborative Thursday, April 27, 2017 6:30pm-8:30pm Rio Theatre 20396 Bohemian Highway Monte Rio, CA 95462 TO RSVP CLICK HERE “Every dollar we put into high-quality early childhood education we get $7 back in reduced teen pregnancy, improved graduation rates, improved performance in school, reduced incarceration rates. The society as a whole does better.” President, Barack Obama...
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Article/audio: How Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to Identify Early Childhood Trauma in Kids Might Make Healthier, Smarter Students
From Capital Public Radio, comes an article and audio on insights to our Governor's plan for California's children: "Nurse Wendie Skala worked with teens who were victims of street violence — and she always felt she was getting to them too late. Eventually, she learned about something called “adverse childhood experiences,” or ACEs : The idea that trauma early in life can cause disruptive and unhealthy behavior. And that’s when Skala says a “huge light bulb” went on. “Instead of saying,...
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Aurora Santa Rosa Hospital Plans to Add 49 Beds in 2019 [Sonoma County Gazette]
Tucked away from the cross-town traffic, off Fulton Road in West Santa Rosa, is a dedicated mental health hospital and Outpatient Program Center situated on 10 grassy, tree-lined acres. Since 2013, when Aurora Santa Rosa [ASR] opened, the facility has offered a full range of mental health services including 95 available beds for those in need. Thirty-eight of those beds are dedicated to adolescent-only units. This is a very nice facility. CEO, Susan Rose , has been at Aurora since 2015. She...
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Bills that address childhood adversity 2019
Below is a table of bills that address childhood adversity in the Legislature for 2019. The list is not an exhaustive list so please email Gail Yen with Children Now if you think a bill is missing and/or if you have any questions. Email: gyen@childrennow.org Bill Number Topic Summary Status in Legislature AB 8 (Chu) Pupil health: mental health professionals AB 8 would require schools to have one mental health professional for every 600 pupils accessible on campus during school hours. For...
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Brazil’s audacious plan to fight poverty using neuroscience and parents’ love
https://qz.com/1298387/brazils-wildly-ambitious-incredibly-precarious-program-to-visit-every-poor-mother-and-change-their-childrens-destiny/
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Bringing ACEs Passion to the Commission on the Status of Women
Harnessing the wisdom that comes from challenging life experiences is a gift - and, it takes strength. Finding a pathway to healing , through expressive art, writing, and kayaking are just some of the ways that Michelle Denham role models the value of self-care. Michelle brings this wisdom to her role on the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women . CSW Commissioner Michelle Denham As a passionate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) champion , Michelle brings a trauma informed lens...
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Building Community Resilience Expands
In response to the increasing demand for BCR expertise and insight we plan to provide more opportunities to share lessons learned. In addition to our regional expansion, see BCR in action later this month. Join us for the next BCR Town Hall in DC on Thursday, April 19th at 3:00pm (EST) in person or via livestream. Read more for details.
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California Child Trauma Advocates Eye Policy Impact
Jeremy Loudenback from the Chronicle of Social Change posted a story about last week's California Policy Convening on Childhood Adversity that the Center for Youth Wellness (CYW) hosted in San Diego. Here's the beginning: Last...
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California Child Welfare Policy and Progress, Winter Issue
The California Child Welfare Co-Investment Partnership Report This issue of in sights provides an overview of the latest legislative developments in California, including data and perspectives on the policy and practice transformation taking place with the Continuum of Care Reform (CCR). Beyond a comprehensive summary of child welfare state legislation, this issue also includes a discussion on the key provisions of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The issue concludes with...
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California Counties Encouraged to Apply for Mental Health Wellness Grants [Sonoma County Gazette]
“There is no better investment we can make today than in the next generation of adults who will be the workers, parents, leaders, and caretakers of the world,” Treasurer Ma said. The deadline for counties to apply for grants is Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 5:00 p.m. Non-profit corporations also are encouraged to contact their counties to apply jointly. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA), chaired by Treasurer Ma, will distribute the funds through the Investment in...
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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...
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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...
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Child Parent Institute Resiliency Support List of Offerings
CPI has been working with their staff and community partners to contribute some help to the families in our community. Here is a flyer of free services that we can offer now and in the coming months. Please see the attached file for the complete schedule of offerings.
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Childhood trauma a crucial public health issue [CapitolWeekly.net]
Preventing childhood trauma should be one of the top goals of California policymakers, a coalition of child advocates say. About 150 of the advocates came to Sacramento last week to educate legislators about the devastating effects of adverse childhood experiences. The goal was to help legislators create policies that will better protect kids. Adverse childhood experiences, known as ACEs, are experiences that are so harmful to children’s developing brains that they affect their lives decades...
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Children Now May Revise Budget Update [childrennow.org]
May Revise Budget Update Below are some of the key issues impacting children’s wellbeing in the 2020-21 May Revision budget proposal released on May 14. The overall Children Now statement on the May Revise can be found here , and a letter from over 760 organizations with Pro-Kid budget asks sent before the May Revise can be found here . Prop 56 funding would be moved away from prioritizing children. There are a number of changes that pull back on the Governor’s January proposals that would...
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Come to our final meeting of 2015!
Dear Sonoma County ACES Connection members, I am excited to remind you that our next meeting is Wed 12/16 from 12:30 to 2:00 in the Public Health building located at 625 Fifth Stree t Santa Rosa, 95404. Several members indicated that they were feeling conflicted, they wanted to be at our meeting and also attend the training at Child Parent Institute, and as such we will push back our start time to 12:30 and end at 2:00 so everyone has the...
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Committee Sign Up List
At our January meeting, we moved forward with the list of committees adopted previously, and asked interested persons to sign up. We will probably begin organizing committee meetings shortly, so please let us know if there is a committee that you want to join. You may indicate your preference in the comment section if you wish. Here is the sign up list as of January 25, 2017. Committee Purpose Sign Up Community Education Educate the general community about ACES Grace Harris, Alison Berk,...
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Community Leaders Connect in ACEs and Resilience Community of Practice
https://nacchovoice.naccho.org/2018/09/25/community-leaders-connect-in-aces-and-resilience-community-of-practice/
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Community Profiles from selected CA ACEs Initiatives and Programs
CA communities and organizations from across the state shared information about their trauma informed and resilience building initiatives at the Child Adversity Policymaker Awareness Day on July 11, 2017 in Sacramento. The event, organized by 4CA ( California Campaign to Counter Childhood Adversity) , educated state legislators about the impacts of child adversity across the lifecourse and strategies for preventing ACEs, healing trauma and creating resilient communities. A series of twelve...
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Conference Scholarship for Beyond Paper Tigers
Congratulations to Dave Rose and Nikki Jackson of Petaluma City Schools for winning this scholarship! The Sonoma County ACEs Connection Steering Committee voted to create a scholarship for educational professionals to attend the upcoming " Beyond Paper Tigers " conference in Walla Walla, Washington. This event is sponsored by our fellow MARC grant community in Washington, and offers Sonoma County the potential to build on our many local screenings of Paper Tigers. "The documentary Paper...
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Coping with Disaster Begins with Tending to Our Own Bodies and Hearts
I just received a compelling email from the Hanna Boys Center reminding us to care for our bodies and hearts during this time of great stress. One incentive to care for yourself is the idea that "well staff serve well." As my friend Clare suggested earlier today, "It's the idea that we need to put on our own oxygen mask in order to live long enough to help others. Still, many of us don't know where to start with supporting our own wellness. This worksheet (attached) offers many simple...
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Could the remedy for stress really be taking a deep breath?
Have you ever heard Frank Girjalva explain how to regain calm in the middle of crisis or after experiencing secondary trauma? His bold claim that we can all combat stress in under 60 seconds may at first seem unbelievable. He shares how "stepping back", breathing, clenching, releasing, and sipping water can create a physical and mental transformation that improves our ability to think and act. However, his explanation is grounded in science. Here is a great article explaining some of the...
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CRI is hiring an Associate Director!
Community Resilience Initiative is seeking an innovative and passionate individual to join our organization as an Associate Director (AD). The AD reports to the Executive Director and to the Board of Directors. Job Overview The role of the Associate Director is to sustain the resilience-based, trauma-responsive capacity building work at the local, regional, state and national stage for which CRI is recognized. Success in this position will be evidenced by recognition of its exceptional...
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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. ...
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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
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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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Dr, Daniel Siegal, MD Speaking in Davis - January 10, 7-9pm.
HOW TO CULTIVATE COURAGE, CURIOSITY AND RESILIENCE IN YOUR CHILD New York Times Bestselling Author and Award-winning Educator, Dan Siegel, MD , will present from his latest book, The Yes Brain : How to Cultivate Courage, Curiosity and Resilience in Your Child . Plan to reserve your tickets starting Dec. 4 th for this exciting January 10 th , 2018 lecture (7-9pm). For more information, FREE tickets and video of DPU’s last lecture with Michele Borba, please go to www.davisparentuniversity.com .
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During COVID-19, how does a trauma-informed school pivot to distance learning?
All photos courtesy of Antioch Middle School staff Antioch Middle School seventh-grader Alyssia Garcia was accustomed to scanning the cafeteria during lunch for kids who might need her assistance. “I’d look for kids who looked sad, kids who were sitting alone, kids who looked angry,” says Garcia, a peer advocate at her school. Alyssia Garcia When she’d spot students sitting alone or looking sad, she’d approach them and ease into conversation. “If it’s a sad person, I’ll try to cheer them up...
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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 Future of Healing: Shifting From Trauma Informed Care to Healing Centered Engagement
A colleague from Northern California recently visited Sonoma County to learn more about our work to address behavioral health and track community well-being. We shared much of our work to mobilize action for resilient communities, and some of Upstream Investment's tools to track impact on community health. I hope hearing some of our journey made her out of state visit worthwhile! What I gained through the site visit was profound... After hearing about our work to build resiliency, address...
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The silence of school leaders on climate change (hechingerreport.org)
By the time wildfires tore through his home county of Sonoma, California, Park Guthrie was already convinced that the clock on the climate catastrophe was running out. In 2015, Guthrie, a sixth-grade teacher and father of three, had approached the superintendent of the school district where he worked, hopeful she would sign a resolution endorsing action on climate change. He says he got nowhere. But after attending an advocacy event in Washington two years later, and hearing that the U.S.
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Thoughts About Next Steps for Sonoma County ACES Connection
At our September meeting, we talked about creating an organizational structure for Sonoma County ACES Connection. I have attended plenty of community meetings (perhaps too many) where the deliberations about Vice-Chairs and Secretary-Treasurers...
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Toxic Stress and its Effect on Development.
Here is a short video clip that explains how toxic stress effects development. Learning to cope with stress is an important part of healthy development. When experiencing stress the stress response system is activated and once the stress is relieved the stress response winds down. In severe situations of abuse or neglect where there is no caring adult to act as a buffer from the stressor, one’s stress response stays activated. Absence of response from adults and constant activation of the...
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Trauma & Resiliency Summit in the Columbia River Gorge
Hello all! The Columbia River Gorge is hosting a Trauma & Resiliency Summit on October 20th & 21st, 2016 in The Dalles, OR. Registration is made free to attendees through MARC Grant funding. If you are in the area please join us! And please note that registration is only available prior to the event as we have a limited amount of space. Claire
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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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Trauma Screenings for all Children on MediCal - AB 340 Approved in California!
Several ACEs Connection members should be feeling proud about now. Karen Clemmer, Carla Denner, Jessica Hackwell, Nick Dalton, and several others joined the 4CA Campaign to educate legislators about ACEs and trauma . Our partners with First 5, Maternal Child Adolescent Health, and the County Board of Supervisors also wrote letters to state policy makers urging consideration of a bill requiring trauma screenings for all children who receive MediCal support. And....drum roll please... As of...
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Two New Grant Opportunities for Youth Development and Diversion Services
In 2019, more than $40 million will become available to fund community-based, culturally rooted, trauma-informed services for youth in California as alternatives to arrest and incarceration. Thousands of California youth are arrested every year for low-level offenses. Youth who are arrested or incarcerated for low-level offenses are less likely to graduate high school, more likely to suffer negative health-outcomes, and more likely to have later contact with the justice system.
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Two Truths and a Lie: ACES Training for Providers, Part One
Note: I was asked to repost this blog on the Sonoma County site, so if you have already read this, there is no new content. There is a game in which you tell people two truths and a lie and folks must guess which one is the lie. Want to play? One: I lived and worked on a seaplane for several months. Two: for a time, I built musical instruments for a living. Three: I helped several women escape domestic violence. To help you figure out which one is the lie, let me tell you a...
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Update on Bumper Crop of State ACEs bills in 2017—46 bills in 20 states
The latest update of state legislation considered by state legislatures in 2017 reveals the growing interest by state policymakers across the country in addressing trauma across sectors. The attached “At-A-Glance” table shows 46 bills in twenty states reference Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) or trauma-informed policy and practice. Take a look at the attached “At-A-Glance” table and leave a comment if your state considered ACEs/trauma legislation that is not included here. A handful of...
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Valley Forum: The necessity of change at Hanna Boys Center [The Sonoma Index Tribune]
By Brian Farragher, Aug 15, 2019, Special To The Index Tribune For almost 75 years Hanna Boys Center has been instrumental in turning around the lives of thousands of troubled, at-risk boys and helped them become productive citizens. We are proud of this heritage. But like many organizations — religious, educational, political and corporate — Hanna has had missteps and failures which have come to light. You’ve probably read about them. These incidents of sexual abuse over several years are...
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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...