Blog

Understanding the story behind one’s score can empower and support people and families, which is what NumberStory.org -- and “The Story of Your Number” campaign -- is designed to do.

Join us for the next A Better Normal community discussion series where we envision and create a trauma-informed society together. Wed, May 26, 2021, 12pm PDT >>Register Here<< We will be learning from Sarah Marikos and Joy Thomas of the ACE Resource Network about the wide impact their Number Story campaign is having through the use of strategic partnerships. This intervention helps individuals understand their ACE numbers and connects them with the resources and tools to heal.

Network with peers in rural communities to identify and explore strategies to engage isolated families in programs and services that promote resiliency and prevent child abuse and neglect. Learn how to incorporating trauma informed practices into program policies and services can build trust and enhance participation for children and families. Take time to examine your own service philosophy, and brainstorm ways to improve service provision and ultimately outcomes for the families you serve.

Please join us as we host Jaclyn Gray, from First 5 San Bernardino County's Tribal Home Visiting Program and Marcelina Shackleford, Prevention Educator from the San Bernardino Indian Health, Inc. at the Native American Family Resource Center, as they share the history of Native American families in the child welfare system and culturally sensitive practices to engage Native American families. American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation and live captions will be made available to anyone who...

Medical Advocacy in the Face of Discrimination presented by Sharon Cooper, MD, FAAP Thursday, May 27, 2021 | 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm (PT) There is a significant impact on the body, mind, and spirit when racism is a part of a child and adolescent’s life experiences. The historical impact of systemic racism affects how families of color will parent their children, and at times intentionally overlook discriminatory treatment for fear of retaliation against their child. This realization has not been...

By Sara Tiano, The Imprint, May 9, 2021 A year ago, the spot on Hegenberger Road in Oakland’s industrial district was but a barren parking lot. Today, it is an art-drenched neighborhood of “tiny homes” created by a local nonprofit, the latest effort to address California’s youth homelessness crisis. The 26 tiny homes, each measuring 8 feet by 10 feet, feature skylights, heated floors and custom Murphy beds that, when folded up, transform into a table. Each miniature house designed for one is...

By John Fensterwald, EdSource, May 10, 2021 Arguing that appropriating billions of dollars alone will not ensure action, community organizations and parents from Los Angeles and Oakland are asking an Alameda County Superior Court judge to order the state to immediately provide computers and internet access and address the mental health needs of children who have borne the brunt of the pandemic. The May 3 request for immediate relief comes six months after the plaintiffs sued the State Board...

By Julia Lurie, Mother Jones, April 26, 2021 For decades, researchers have pointed out that the child welfare system is riddled with inequities. Black children are far more likely than their white counterparts to be investigated as victims of abuse and neglect, to be placed in foster care, and to be permanently separated from their biological parents. “Spend a day at dependency court in any major city and you will see the unmistakable color of the child welfare system,” wrote Dorothy...

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA 12-COUNTY ALL IN FOR KIDS FUNDING AVAILABLE Promote Healthy Child Development, Prevent Childhood Adversity, Support Equity, Heal Trauma REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WEBINAR ON MAY 19 Genentech and Blue Shield of California Foundation have joined Futures Without Violence and Bay Area Region First 5's to create All In For Kids, an initiative that focuses on young children (birth to 5 years of age) along with their families, caregivers, and communities. We are pleased to...

Whether it’s racial profiling at traffic stops or microaggressions at work, racism by any measure can cause toxic stress. That causal relationship and how it leads to a greater burden of ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) among communities of color was the subject of a recent webinar entitled “ Racism and Discrimination as Risk Factors for Toxic Stress ,” sponsored by the California Surgeon General’s Office and the ACEs Aware Initiative. “I can't think of a more important conversation to...

Through the ACEs study, we know how trauma can manifest for generations. Navigating cultural stigmas attached to mental health can increase shame and frustration while on your path towards healing. Our friends at ACEs Early Childhood Education posted this wonderful resource for a few upcoming webinars exploring wellness through a cultural lens. Click here to register for one of the two upcoming timeslots hosted through the La Maida Project on 5/18 and 5/20!

Watch how Baltimore, St. Louis, and San Francisco are helping their communities recover from COVID-19 and other traumas. This new two-minute video spotlights how Healing City Baltimore, St. Louis ReCAST, and Heal SF (San Francisco) are building healthier communities through healing. Amid COVID-19 and social and racial injustices, these localities are supporting frontline workers, building community connections, and funding projects that matter to the community. Learn more about the local...