Blog

The ACEs Connection Cooperative of Communities launches today. We want to continue to contribute to the ACEs movement for as long as it takes to create a worldwide healing-centered culture based on ACEs science. We want that to take hold in this world in the same way electricity has — we only notice it if it isn’t there. First, a clarification: Nothing on ACEsConnection.com changes! Membership remains free! Everything our current 300+ communities use stays free, and remains free for new ones.

We developed ACEs Connection's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Tool — called the Inclusion Tool, for short — to ensure that ACEs initiatives across the world focus on being inclusive when forming a steering committee, recruiting leaders, providing education about ACEs science, recruiting members, or providing resources and services within their communities. The more inclusive your ACEs initiative is, the more diverse it will be, giving your initiative a real shot at achieving equity and...

By Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, November 1, 2019 Required Components Aligning Systems for Health will explore the degree to which health equity is impacted or results from current models of collaboration incorporating health care, public health, and social services. Gaps in health are large, persistent and increasing, and RWJF is committed to a system that meets people’s goals and needs and addresses these gaps that many populations face. Studies should include a focus on health equity by...

A hearing of unprecedented scope and depth on ACEs science and childhood trauma — "Identifying, Preventing, and Treating Childhood Trauma: A Pervasive Public Health Issue that Needs Greater Federal Attention" — will be held today in the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

ACEs Connection presents, "Starting & Growing Resilient Communities: Online & In Real Life (IRL)", an interactive webinar training series focused on developing existing and potential online community managers and IRL ACEs champions. This series is dedicated to providing insight into creating sustainable and effective online & IRL ACEs initiatives. In this fifth session, we’ll talk about why it's so critical to tell your story far and wide. This incudes how to blog and share...

Stephen Porges: ‘Survivors are blamed because they don’t fight’ Excellent interview with trauma expert Stephen Porges. His work gets right at the intersection of experience and what can be life-long effects of traumatic events. From the article: "The point that we have to understand is that when a person has a reaction or response to trauma, the body interprets the traumatic event as a life threat. There’s a massive re-tuning of how the nervous system works, how it regulates underlying...

The startling toll on children who witness domestic violence is just now being understood Jayne O'Donnell and Mabinty Quarshie , USA TODAY Published 9:59 a.m. ET Jan. 29, 2019 | Updated 7:03 p.m. ET Jan. 31, 2019 The Sanchez brothers' lives unraveled when alleged violence between their parents caused them to put their dreams on hold. Children who witness domestic violence at home have increased risks of PTSD, poor health and a far higher likelihood of depression. Sandy Hooper, USA TODAY...

The Harvard Center on the Developing Child has a really nice infographic that explains executive function. I have attached the infographic, below.

Sam Thomas sent this - "It is a quick read highlighting the importance of acknowledging our own roles in oppressive systems and offers 6 questions to ask when looking at advancing equity in systems change. The author cautions that it is not easy to reflect in this way but that is it necessary. It...made me think of our BFC-VT work and wonder if other trainers would find it a valuable read." Insights Countering Systems of Oppression Reflections on Racial Responsibility in Systems Improvement...

This is a joy to watch and a great example of how to build resilience in very simple ways. It is a great example to those people so anxious to "DO SOMETHING." Making connections with strangers is doing a whole heck of a lot and could be the first step in any community - can you make it the norm in your community that everyone says hello to one another? It used to be that way in Montpelier - it isn't anymore. Can we change that? Not just in Montpelier, but across Vermont. It may seem...

The second session of the Starting & Growing Resilient Communities: Online & IRL (In Real Life) was a success. Many members tuned in and were able to learn more about mission/vision statements, creating norms and strategic planning. I have embedded the video in this post. The third session, Launching Your ACEs Initiative , will take place March 15th. If you have any questions about the series, please contact Ingrid Cockhren , TN & Midwest Community Facilitator.

This is just a quick note to thank ACEs Connection for the incredible resources that are offered simply as a result of joining the website. In Vermont we are busy with our "Building Flourishing Communities" initiative, built on Laura Porter's Self-Healing Communities model. We are 18 months into our work and have just secured a second round of funding by being part of a federal grant that our Child Development Division won. We are very small, and have very little bandwidth for anything other...