Blog

Crawford and Erie County in Northwest Pennsylvania joined together again this fall to host the 5 th Annual Trauma Informed and Resilient Communities Conference at Edinboro University . This entirely free conference was well attended with approximately 355 total participants (system, youth, family, community, and faith partners) who sold out the venue in less than one day. Our morning plenary promoted building community resilience at the neighborhood level. It began with a brief welcome by...

I was excited to engage in this powerfully healing conversation with Belinda Farrell - Reconnective Healing Practitioner, Huna Consultant, and Public Speaker - about her personal journey from trauma to triumph. What a fascinating life lived by a beautiful soul.

Engaging webinars that will equip you with new tools to empower kids. Learn how to use creative expression to help kids develop important social-emotional learning skills and build resilience.

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of migrants seeking asylum at the southwest border, according to new statistics released by the Department of Homeland of Security on Monday (December 10). According to the findings , announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and reported by CNN , “92,959 claims of credible fear” were made by migrants at the southern border in 2018, “compared to 55,584 claims made in fiscal year 2017.” That represents a 67 percent jump in the number of...

This year has been one of the most transformative years in history for New York’s juvenile justice system. Just a month after one of New York’s most groundbreaking juvenile justice reforms, Raise the Age, became a reality, New York City took a wrecking ball to the decades-old Spofford Juvenile Detention Centers in the Bronx. For too long, Spofford served as a symbol of misguided approaches to juvenile delinquency. The demolition of Spofford along with the implementation of Raise the Age...

The Trump administration is resuming its efforts to deport certain protected Vietnamese immigrants who have lived in the United States for decades—many of them having fled the country during the Vietnam War. This is the latest move in the president’s long record of prioritizing harsh immigration and asylum restrictions, and one that’s sure to raise eyebrows—the White House had hesitantly backed off the plan in August before reversing course. In essence, the administration has now decided...

One of those ah-ha moments in my life came when I realized that it was not up to anyone else to "save" me. Instead, I started to look to myself for empowerment. I experienced what I call "a shift" in 2013. Think of it as a change in philosophy, a willingness to open myself up to healing and answers.

Addiction - an ACE that often times will have multiple co-existing ACEs - continues to be a national health epidemic. Overdose rates are still on the rise. Children of addiction (COAs) are vulnerable to pain, isolation and fear every single day. BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY! COA Awareness Week recognizes the challenges for kids and teenagers impacted by a parent's struggle with addiction. With the right support, children can begin to heal. With appropriate services, children can learn...

KPJR Films - the creator of the documentaries "Paper Tigers" and "Resilience"- will be leading a new book club in 2019! Our own Teri Barila of CRI was asked to help create a list of trauma-informed books for the Book Club. Read KPJR Film's announcement below: COMING IN 2019: KPJR FILMS BOOK CLUB KPJR Films is pleased to present the selections for the inaugural 2019 KPJR Book Club . Industry experts, Theresa Barila, co-founder and current CEO of the Children’s Resilience Initiative (CRI)...

Ulf Sandstrom and Gunilla Hamne of Peaceful Heart Network have spent years in Africa and now in Europe teaching survivors of civil wars and other traumas the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT), which uses a simplified version of EFT tapping to relieve stress and trauma from the body without using words. They recently released a free app (available in multiple languages) with easy-to-follow video instructions. This would be a great way to introduce children to tapping. Here's what they had to...

We know that many of you on ACEs Connection are doing (or know about) innovative behavioral health work in your communities and we'd love to hear about it! Please help us get the word out about the 2019 Scattergood Innovation Award! We will be accepting applications until Monday, January 7th, 2019 at 5pm EST. Applications will then be reviewed by a panel of expert judges and narrowed to five finalists who will have the opportunity to present their innovative programs at NatCon19 in...

I enjoyed this beautiful conversation with ACEs Connection member, Jessie Graham, on her work with clients, teachers, and students utilizing her co-creating change philosophies and techniques.