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The ACEs Connection site contains a wealth of information. Sometimes we say it is the Library of Congress or the Wikipedia of the ACEs Science movement. And the home page of ACEsConnection.com is just “the tip of the ACE-berg” because there is so much behind the home page of this “community of communities” (we now have more than 400 different geographic and interest-based communities .) With that thought in mind, we're sharing this regular post called “Do you know?” that will take one tip or...

Hi ACEs Connection Community, I am a staff member here at ACEs Connection. I have been hosting mental health tools for personal wellness each evening for the past 2 weeks since we've had to start sheltering in place and isolating. Note: These videos are a personal project and not done on behalf of ACEs Connection. The ideas are not officially endorsed by ACEs Connection, although I reference ACEs science. In this video, I talk about why childhood wounds may be triggered during this...

By Chauncey DeVega, Salon, March 30, 2020 In many ways both obvious and subtle, Donald Trump is precisely the wrong person to be president of the United States during the coronavirus crisis. Almost everything he does makes matters worse and imperils lives. Over the weekend, Trump threatened to instigate civil war, if perhaps only through his own ignorance, by suggesting he might quarantine New York, New Jersey and parts of Connecticut . Of course the president has no such power under the...

Dr. Scott Sells, the Founder of the Family Trauma Institute and an expert with families, interviews Sarah, a single parent mom, with four children. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought sudden change and stress to an already traumatized family. Sarah discusses the challenges and how the practical tools on knowing her children's love language combined with a clear written plan is a game-changer to help stabilize her family. If you are a parent or professional who wants concrete tools to help your...

Caring for Each Other: How to Use Sesame Street in Communities Resources for Health Emergencies with Families Now Wednesday, April 1, 2020 @ 3 PM ET We're all in this together, and that's why we're all coming together. Sesame Workshop and the Brazelton Touchpoints Center are partnering on a webinar series, beginning April 1st, to share online resources that can help us handle the sudden changes in our lives when we face health emergencies like the one that confronts us today. As a result of...

By A. Hosack, & P. Berman, K. Hecht People noticed my editorial! Sarah read my editorial and she is telling people about it! Mrs. Carson was at a party for one of her friend’s birthdays. Everything started out so wonderfully. She hugged her friend Sara and wished her a happy birthday. Sara congratulated her on having her editorial published in the newspaper. She announced to everyone that they now had a famous author as a friend. Mrs. Carson started to laugh with pleasure until she...

By A. Hosack P. Berman & K. Hecht, Move Larry move don’t just lie there. This is your own fault. Why couldn’t you do what you were told? Martin was back at his post staring at Larry through the window of the intensive care unit. He was lost in thought, this time full of anger. He had warned Larry over and over the last night they were in prison about what was expected once they got to Philadelphia. There was nothing more he could have done to prepare him for life with the gang on the...

Here's a link to a summary of my notes on polyvagal theory from a training I attended with Dr Stephen Porges in Cork, Ireland in September 2019. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340309690_The_human_condition_we_are_all_on_a_quest_for_safety?channel=doi&linkId=5e835d7a299bf130796d959c&showFulltext=true I also conducted a Law and Justice podcast with Dr Porges on "The Science of Safety", accessible here: ...

Hi ACES Connection community - over at our Lancaster County (PA) ACES & Resilience Connection page, we've been posting a series called "Trauma Informed Care Take Five" or "TIC TAKE FIVE". Here's one of them - just wanted to share in case it's helpful to others out there. Hope everyone is finding ways to stay safe, healthy, and resilient. ...

The suggestions: 1. Be caring and consistent (and don't pry). 2. Remember: children love their parents (even if they've said or done terrible things). 3. Remind them (repeatedly) it's not their fault. 4. Look beyond a child's behavior (instead ask 'why') 5. Help kids learn to deal with their emotions (in a healthy way). 6. Let kids be kids. (Encourage silliness!)

My heart goes out to everyone during this uncertain time. I am sending loving-kindness and wishes for wellbeing to all who are suffering. It’s normal to not feel normal during this crisis. We’re all having a bit of difficult time paying attention, concentrating, adjusting to new schedules and new levels of fear, anxiety, and grief. It’s normal to not feel normal during this crisis. I ask myself daily how do we face this crisis mindfully, skillfully and with emotional resilience?

As this group knows well, kids need to process what is happening in their world. It is hard for kids to understand social distancing, stay at home mandates and school closures. This isn't a snow day or summer vacation. And home isn't idyllic for many. This story will help. Designed to be trauma responsive. It is being translated into Spanish. Please get this YouTube book to teachers, organizations, groups and folks who work with children. Text it, email it, forward it. Aiming for 10,000...