The NJ Office of Resilience wants to connect with you, in your community, to introduce or advance information and programs that help to prevent and heal the trauma that affects people’s ability to thrive! While traumatic experiences can occur at any age, I’m primarily referring to ACEs, Adverse Childhood Experiences, that happen to children and can have lasting effects into adulthood, especially if not countered with Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). Together, positive, and adverse childhood experiences (PACEs) shape our minds, bodies and spirits, and greatly influence our physical health, mental health and social, educational and economic futures.
My name is Rebecca Bryan, and I am the new Executive Director of this innovative office. A little about me – I have been (and will always think like) a nurse practitioner for most of my career in nursing, providing primary care services in Cherry Hill and Camden for decades. In 2012 I left traditional practice, as well as teaching at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, to start the Wellness Center at UrbanPromise Ministries in Camden, with initiatives like starting a community garden, teaching health classes at the high school, and staff self-care.
In 2013 I had what I like to call my “Nadine Burke Harris Moment” – I heard Dr. Sandy Bloom present about the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at a half-day conference – and my mind was blown. Not only did I gain important insights into our kids at UrbanPromise – like why they were able to write wise and witty poetry yet kept getting suspended or expelled – but it also made me look back at all the ADULT patients I had treated…this felt like the reason why I hadn’t been able to get to the root of so many health issues they faced. Why hadn’t I, as an expert nurse practitioner who prided herself on staying current with research, ever heard of ACEs in 2013? Fast forward to 2023, and sadly too many healthcare providers, as well as leaders across social sectors, remain unaware of ACEs’ impact on adult health and well-being.
My response to this knowledge, beginning in 2013 and continuing through the foreseeable future, has been to immerse myself in all things trauma-informed. I have shifted from a generalist stance – knowing a fair amount about a broad array of health issues – to a concentrated focus in this field. I completed 60 weeks of certification training in trauma competency through Lakeside Global Institute, thanks to funding through United Way. My doctoral work allowed me to gain multi-faceted perspective through the lenses of epidemiology, policy, and theory. I’ve been fortunate to present on a wide array of trauma-informed topics through my relationships with healthcare systems and the Health Federation of Philadelphia, and I’ve published articles on ACEs and wound care science (Yes! There is a correlation) thanks to connections through Rutgers University School of Nursing – Camden. I just can’t get enough, it seems, when it comes to trauma-informed thinking.
And now, I’ve been given the gift of this position to share my expertise and continued learning in this field. Thanks to the vision of the Department of Children and Family’s Commissioner, Christine Beyer, I’ve stepped into a trauma-informed role that is complemented by the Offices of Staff Health and Wellness, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, and the Office of Family Voice. Initiatives addressing truth and transformation in New Jersey, vicarious trauma in DCF staff, and amplifying community voices are already underway, leaving the Office of Resilience to focus on initiatives to make the state a truly trauma-informed, healing-centered state.
I have a growing team of dedicated staff who are working with people like you in the community, engaging with individuals and organizations across sectors. We are funding community-driven initiatives through microgrants and police-youth projects and linking youth living in out of home care to apprenticeships. Listening to the wisdom of thought-leaders, we are shifting from focusing on the problem – ACEs – to celebrating and supporting community strengths – healing-centered engagement. And while continuing to rely on research generated by the ACEs studies, we are integrating positive childhood experiences – into every conversation, because they balance the picture, provide hope, and point us towards what we need to do.
We want and need to hear from you. What is your vision for the Office of Resilience? Where are the gaps? What’s working that we need to hear about? You can reach us at DCF.OfficeofResilience@dcf.nj.gov. Let’s build a coalition that brings cross-sector New Jerseyans together, united in the vision of a trauma-informed and healing-centered state!
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