Blog

It has been approximately one year since leaving my position as the Waupaca County Health and Human Services director, reminding me how quickly times passes. So much has happened over the past year… good, bad and indifferent. The world has changed, and we’ve changed with it — we’ve learned so much about doing things differently, and that sometimes different is better. It is hard to believe that we can go back to what we knew as ‘normal’. In fact, I would say it is our moral obligation to not...

In this episode, Nathan Gerbrandt joins Matt to discuss the importance of trauma-informed workplaces and organizations. www.traumainformedlens.org

Achievement and success can mask underlying pain in such a way that it festers and continues to hold power over us.

Hi Folks, The latest edition of the Surviving Spirit Newsletter is posted at the website - http://newsletters.survivingspirit.com/index.php Once again I've tried to create a mix of articles, videos, music, books, podcasts, resources, etc, that offer Hope, Healing & Help. As the saying goes, “ Take what you like and leave the rest. ” or here's the PDF - http://newsletters.survivingspirit.com/pdfs/2021-04-The_Surviving_Spirit_Newsletter_April_2021.pdf To sign up for an e-mail copy, please...

Today, we know that approximately: 1/10 individuals will be challenged by their substance use 4 people will be directly impacted by an individuals substance use 1/6 children are challenged by a parent's active addiction. As health professionals and first responders, we are ideally positioned to provide the compassionate and trauma-informed care needed to dismantle the stigma that prevents families from receiving adequate care while simultaneously supporting families ability to heal. Visit...

Companies that support mental health —meaning, they talk about it, they work differently, they offer resources and normalize people using them, they train their leaders and managers to know how to support employees, and they hold people accountable for prioritizing mental health—see a 5:1 return on investment . Some of these companies might even (gasp) work fewer hours, but they are working better, smarter, more sustainably. In other words, they are more productive and higher performing.

Hi folks, April is National Child Abuse, Sexual Assault Awareness and Childhood Sexual Abuse Prevention Month. This is a song of mine I wrote many years ago to all the survivors of childhood abuse-past and present. You deserve healing and support. Take care, Michael. "Brush Away Your Tears" - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SpYYc6tl4s&t=4s The song was also used in the film documentary - Boys & Men Healing Healing From Child Sexual Abuse -...

Head Start and Early Head Start continue to lead the way in promoting school readiness and family engagement for vulnerable young children. It’s no surprise, then, that Head Start is increasingly focused on implementing trauma-informed care (TIC). A recent study adds timely relevance to the advancement of trauma-informed care in Head Start preschool settings. The study, published in School Mental Health , “examines the relationship between trauma-informed training content, trauma-informed...

By Joe Parks, MD - Medical Director, National Council for Behavioral Health The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the health and welfare of so many people, and it seems no one is immune from the fear, isolation or economic anxiety caused by this historic public health crisis. The mental health of young people represents a unique concern that requires attention. In a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 63% of 18- to-24-year-olds...

“ Trauma always happens within a context, and so does healing. To understand the impact of trauma means being acutely sensitive to the environment—to the conditions under which people grew up, to how they live today, and to the journeys they have taken along the way .” (Andrea Blanch, Beth Filson, and Darby Penney National Center for Trauma Informed Care guidebook ) Creating an environment that exudes calm, safety, and compassion is a goal of trauma-informed systems. It is a profound...

Honored to be part of the Survivor Stories event hosted by Michael Broussard of Ask a Survivor. Performing two songs of mine and sharing the back story to their creation - "Songs For The Keys To Your Life"and "When Your Heart Follows A Lie" “ Go to where the silence is and say something.” - Amy Goodman Survivor Stories- Michael Skinner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehkz2kkkIa4&t=40s Take care and share as you wish...Michael Skinner A diagnosis is not a destiny “ Our lives begin to...

Just TWO WEEKS away! The March free, interactive workshop will help teachers and caregivers explore strategies to advocate for trauma-informed care practices at their school. Join me on March 17th at 4pm PT/7pm ET for this workshop! Based on past participant feedback, the workshop is scheduled for 1.5 hours. A certificate of completion for the workshop is available upon request. The workshop will be recorded and sent out to all registrants. Register at http://bit.ly/risemar21 . You can find...