Blog

By Daniel Gonzalez, AZCentral, January 10, 2021 Samayra's son stopped eating after he was taken from his father at the Texas border in June 2018 under the Trump administration's zero-tolerance family separation policy. The boy, who was seven at the time, and his father came to the U.S. seeking refuge after fleeing violence and poverty in their native Honduras. But after he was sent to a shelter in New York, the boy didn't know if he would ever see his father again. He survived at the shelter...

By Melissa Withers, Psychology Today, January 8, 2020 Human trafficking survivors often have to deal with the aftermath of complex trauma for the rest of their lives. What exactly is trauma? The first thing that comes to mind might be an unusual event characterized by extreme violence or emotion, such as a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, or the unexpected death of a family member. However, trauma also applies to a much broader range of events that people can experience in their...

By Mimi Montgomery, Washingtonian, January 8, 2021 After pro-Trump extremists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, the nation has carried on in a nightmarish haze. This is especially true for DC residents: Even if you didn’t experience the mob directly, it’s still horrifying to know a coup attempt happened just a Metro ride away. It’s understandable, then, that folks may be experiencing anxiety, depression, and trauma after Wednesday’s insurrection, say mental health professionals. And the...

On January 6th I was glued to the television and online news watching the coverage of how the U.S. Capitol was being overrun by a mob - a mob that turned violent and deadly (i.e., violent extremists). I don't talk about politics much because that's not my focus and I'm not going to start today. What I do want to discuss is, "What leads people to take the actions they take and what can we do to provide leadership during a time of crisis?" To read more, please visit:...

By Rachel Janfaza, CNN, January 9, 2021 Aalayah Eastmond was scrolling through Twitter this week when she saw a meme comparing lawmakers on lockdown at the Capitol to students during active-shooter drills in public schools. Eastmond survived the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. She was a junior and recalls sheltering in place that day when 17 students and teachers were killed. "It's a very weird situation as a gun violence survivor and a...

How are you coping with so much time at home? Whether you call it lockdown, sheltering in place, or quarantine, just about everyone’s work-life balance has been disrupted. We need to nurture ourselves even more than usual these days. We are all in need of more self-care, gentleness and especially healthy boundaries in relationships! Your schedule and your life are probably quite different now than they were before COVID. Many are feeling disruptions like work reconfiguration and job loss,...

Suffering is an expected part of this journey because resilience is a muscle that we strengthen over time and experiences. However, developing this muscle is most effective when encouraged by warm, loving, and responsive caregiving.

As an Early Childhood Educator it is my Duty to Advocate for The Needs & Well-Being of ALL Children. Especially The Children Here in The City Of VALLEJO. I Will do Everything Possible to Speak Up and Bring Awareness to EVERYONE about the Impact ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). You Will Be Educated, Encouraged and Empowered to Take the Action Necessary as Parents & Teachers to Create Healthy Environments for OUR CHILDREN. There Is Work to Do💪🏽. Come Learn More Every Wednesday🤗

I recently self published a book called: Our Society: Addiction and More Uncovered. Hear the voices of everyday people. I interviewed over 50 people from different backgrounds. People who have addiction problems, families, friends, health care professionals including nurses, doctors, counselors and social workers. I think this way the stories can be heard from multiple perspectives and create a more holistic view of what addiction is and how it affects people. The book also addresses the...

Are you curious about starting an ACEs Initiative in your community? Do you want to learn the fundamentals of organizing an initiative or coalition? Join one of these upcoming webinars to learn how to start and organize an ACEs initiative! 1. How To Start an ACEs Initiative in Your Community These webinars will be led monthly on the second Monday of the month by Alison Cebulla, the ACEs Connection Community Facilitator (CF) for the Northeast USA, Mid-Atlantic USA, and Canada. You are welcome...

Do you feel your stress rising, especially as COVID and political disturbances are raging? We Are Resilient is a practical hands-on approach to strengthening resilience and reduce stress. We can all benefit from recognizing what gets in the way of our resilience as well as learn how to practice these practical skills which promote it. We Are Resilient is particularly helpful for healthcare providers and staff to be more comfortable addressing ACEs and trauma and provide trauma-informed care.

This has been a brutal year, especially on kids and their parents! Research says parents are YELLING more, SPANKING more and that the mental health of children is on the decline. Research suggests child abuse in on the rise. SO MUCH STRESS! Parents really need us right now. Help us create a community of care! We are launching the 6th annual NoSpank Challenge to help parents learn... Brain development (and what is normal!) How to parent non-violently How to talk to your children in a way that...