Tagged With "Children's Ministry"
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A "Trauma-informed Lord's Prayer" by & for children, written in chapel at Intermountain
In a previous post , I explained that this fall I worked with the children on understanding and interpreting the Lord's Prayer. The Lord's Prayer, or "Our Father," posed many interesting opportunities to discuss themes that each and ever one of us struggle with. It was a challenge preparing a lesson for children with emotional disturbance dealing with complicated teachings in scripture. It was an exercise in combatting "Christian-ese" and the simple Sunday school answers (you know... when in...
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Advocating for Rachel, Part One - insights from Intermountain Board member and friend, Crystal Amundson
Note: Crystal Amundson LCPC, RPT-S runs a private practice in Helena, Montana, where she works as a child play therapist. Crystal specializes in Play Therapy, working with children ages 2-12, alongside their caregivers. She is a previous employee and current board member at Intermountain. Her passion and expertise is in the field of early childhood mental health. Crystal prepared this case study with accompanying prompts for action by faith-based groups and community groups that hope to make...
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Building Resilience for Better Lives - from HelenaIR.com
Life is hard. “In this world you WILL have trouble,” Jesus said. The ability to successfully face the hardships that will inevitably come to us will determine our level of satisfaction, joy, and peace. Resilience isn’t just a desirable trait, it’s absolutely essential. And, it turns out that scripture has a lot to say about this essential quality for successful living. There are many passages we could examine to illustrate the point, but the letter from James is one of my favorites. Eugene...
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Chaplain Chris Haughee Interview
To quote a friend who just gave her testimony at our church about her own struggles with mental health misdiagnosis and recovery, she was told after her first hospitalization, “This won’t be the first time you deal with this.” Our trauma is always with us.
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Coming back to ‘The Wall': building resilience by learning to trust
Recently, we did an object lesson as part of our Resilience-based series that I call “the Wall.” We talked about how bad things happen in this world despite having a loving God that looks over us. We make bad choices at times that hurt us, and others make bad choices that hurt us. In general, there is a lot of brokenness in relationships that causes a lot of damage. So, I told the children, we learn how to protect ourselves. Just like castles have BIG walls or our cottages on campus have...
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Elevate Montana - Helena Affiliate and "trial run" of new trauma-informed curriculum for churches
To date, over 80 copies of the curriculum Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks: a six week study of trauma-informed ministry and compassionate care for children from hard places and situations have gone out around the country. Released this past spring, most have ordered it to preview the materials prior to utilization this coming fall. So, while feedback has been positive, there have been few users with specific comments related to how their teaching experience has gone (because, well... they...
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For those that ordered... the trauma-informed curriculum for churches is headed out the door this week!
It's been a labor of love more than a year in the making, and it is exciting to see the curriculum come together and head out to those that will give this first version a "test drive" this spring and (hopefully) give me some great feedback so I can make improvements over the summer and make the curriculum better! It is called "Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks: a six week study of trauma-informed ministry and compassionate care for children from hard places and situations." The study is...
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Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
First thing you may ask is What?? and then, perhaps, Why?? Well... The story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death, burial and resurrection can be difficult for many people, but none more so than the victims of abuse or neglect, or for anyone especially affected by violence. We want to be sensitive to the special needs of those that have endured trauma, but still remain truthful to the gospel. So, what is a parent, children’s minister, or pastor to do around Easter? It’s a tough situation. If you...
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How do you cope? Self-regulation "favorites" from our children! (video)
In a recent chapel time, our children were given the opportunity to "pay if forward" by helping create the video below. You see, part of the lesson was about thanksgiving and generosity, and that generosity is NOT just about sharing money. It's about being the type of people who share compassion and the wisdom that has been gained through difficulty. The children were encouraged to know that they could help other children handle their big feelings in healthy ways by sharing what they had...
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Intermountain Video Podcast: How Kids Navigate a Pandemic
Meegan Bryce, MSW, began her work at Intermountain with children and families as a Direct Care Counselor in 2004. She has since been a Cottage Supervisor, Child and Family Therapist, the Residential Manager and now serves as the Residential Director. Meegan is a Montana native and enjoys all the outdoor activities that Montana has to offer, especially river rafting. In this video podcast, she speaks with Development Officer Tyler Zimmer about how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting the...
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Knowing and Growing - a look in to a recent chapel lesson from my Resilience series
Dear friends at ACEsConnection, I thought it might be of interest to you to see an example of how I am integrating the themes of resilience building, and in particular the measures from the Children and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-12+4), into our chapel times on campus at Intermountain Residential Services in Helena, Montana. What appears below is part of the lesson built around the tried and true measure of resilience: can the child identify skills and abilities that are making them more...
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My Tears in His Bottle: prayers from the heart of a special needs’ mom
Pat Hays has written a devotional book that gives wonderful insight into the joys and struggles that parenting a child with emotional special needs presents. Her book, My Tears in His Bottle: prayers from the heart of a special needs’ mom , contains excerpts from her personal prayer journal as she worked through the last fifteen years of balancing her calling to be an adoptive parent with the roadblocks she encountered in her neighborhood, friendships, school district, marriage, and church...
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New and improved 2nd edition of the "Bruised Reeds & Smoldering Wicks" trauma-informed curriculum for churches now available!
I am pleased to announce that a NEW, 8-week version of the study, "Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks," is now available. This 2nd edition includes input I received from the ACEsConnection community and others which resulted in two additional weeks of material. You still get the movie, "Paper Tigers," and the licensing to show it to up to 250 in an educational or religious setting, but there is much more... And, while a number of edits have gone into this second edition of the curriculum, my...
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New Trauma-informed curriculum for training ministries available as an instant digital download!!
I have been blessed by the response to the curriculum "Bruised Reeds and Smoldering Wicks," now having sent it out to ministries in 26 States and the District of Columbia. I have already received a little feedback and made some minor changes to content, but what I am most excited about is that t he curriculum is now available in a downloadable digital format! For those that have not seen previous posts on the curriculum, the study is for adult small groups or classes and is laid out into the...
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Six-week adult Sunday school curriculum on trauma-informed ministry coming soon!
Within the next month, I will be making available a draft version of an adult Sunday School curriculum that will introduce the concept of trauma-informed ministry to churches. If there are members of ACEsConnection that would like to "test run" the curriculum, I'd be honored if you'd reach out to me in the comments section or via a direct message. Email works, too! Just send to chrish@intermountain.org. The curriculum just takes a look at the "slice" of trauma-informed ministry that I am...
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The Soulful Journey of Recovery: A Guide to Healing from a Traumatic Past for ACAs, Codependents, or Those with Adverse Childhood Experiences
A groundbreaking new book from Tian Dayton, PhD, and the publisher of the New York Times bestseller Adult Children of Alcoholics …The book that started it all! T ian Dayton picks up where Janet Woititz author of Adult Children of Alcoholics left off…..for those who have grown up in a family with addiction, mental illness, or other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the heartache and pain doesn’t end when they grow up and leave home. The legacy can last a lifetime and spread to generations...
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Toxic Stress: Issue Brief on Family Separation and Child Detention [immigrationinitiative.harvard.edu]
By Jack P. Shonkoff, Immigration Initiative at Harvard, October 2019 Background The separation of children from their parents and their prolonged detention for an indefinite period of time raise profound concerns that transcend partisan politics and demand immediate resolution. Forcibly separating children from their parents is like setting a house on fire. Preventing rapid reunification is like blocking the first responders from doing their job. And subjecting children to prolonged...
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Why you faith community should know about ACEs - from Helenair.com
As I begin to share with faith communities throughout Montana why adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) matter and how they can help build more resilient children and healthier communities, I sometimes hear something like this: "But why does it matter? What difference should it make in ministry?” The ACE survey measured the prevalence of ten stress-inducing factors in childhood including abuse, neglect, and substance abuse in the home, and these factors definitely influence ministries...
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With VBS coming up, attitudes and conversations can make a difference when you have a rambunctious group of kids
Summer is here, and recently I’ve been doing my early morning walk on the beach. In our part of the country we have a beach restoration project going on. This project involves ships, pipes 4 feet in diameter, tractors, backhoes, and other equipment needed to dredge the sand off the bottom of the ocean and pump it up onto the beach. It’s quite interesting to watch the sand pour out of those very large pipes onto the beach and then observe the large earthmoving equipment move all the sand...
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Re: Why you faith community should know about ACEs - from Helenair.com
Chris, where did you get the stats for Montana? Is there a link that tells such stats for various states? I'd love to use some of this in presentations to children's pastors when I speak at national conferences. Thanks for your compassion to inform congregations about ACEs.
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Re: Why you faith community should know about ACEs - from Helenair.com
Linda... Here is the source for the stats: http://www.childtrends.org/wp-...xperiences_FINAL.pdf It is not an exhaustive discussion, but does discuss what is most prevalent as far as ACEs for each state. Hope you find it helpful! Chris
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Re: Why you faith community should know about ACEs - from Helenair.com
Thanks bunches. I get Child Trend's news but must have missed this one. Too much to read and keep up with at times.
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Re: Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
Hi, Chris, One thing jumps out at me about this poem. Black is for shame; white is for grace. I believe that the author and you mean good and no harm, and the association between black and bad/ white and good is so historical and pervasive that I would not use this version of the poem/ story. Racism is pervasive, often unrecognized, and traumatic. Peace, Jaime
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Re: Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
Jaime, great point. Not sure how to mitigate that... The spiritual teaching point would need to be differentiated from any conclusions that could be drawn by the hearers in regards to racial judgment. I probably do this by habit, now, having worked in a multicultural setting for years, but this would not be intuitive for others, and for them your reminder is helpful! Chris
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Re: Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
What a great revision! I needed it just a week earlier to revise the "Jelly Bean Catechism" bags we made this year. Next year, we're on it. The whole "black" and "white" thing is so difficult, because this imagery is everywhere - in art, literature, and Scripture. Thinking about it, it occurs to me that the problem is with labeling PEOPLE "black" or "white". It has always seemed ridiculous to me since no skin color is either black or white.
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Re: Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
So... given the black jelly bean white jelly bean discussion, I thought Jane's recent post on here was interesting: https://www.pacesconnection.com/...hite-prince-ea-5-min
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Re: Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
I like the video. I think it's all true and I hope we don't get into a simple either-or way of looking at race and all the history and current conscious and unconscious dynamics that surround it. Yes, labels limit- we are much more than those. And labels privilege others. I see both- and, and simply as adding some thoughtful context around the jellybean poem (and there are other similar apparently innocuous stories, movies, images) could make it richer and even more meaningful. Peace.
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Re: Free Resource! A "Trauma Informed" Jelly Bean Easter Poem
How would the Black community react to the sentences that start with Black, and White?
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Re: The Soulful Journey of Recovery: A Guide to Healing from a Traumatic Past for ACAs, Codependents, or Those with Adverse Childhood Experiences
Thanks for this review. I just ordered it---just what I was looking for as I organize a presentation about ACEs. Trying to offer as many recovery suggestions as possible, particularly from a Christian perspective. serenityandhealth.com
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Re: A "Trauma-informed Lord's Prayer" by & for children, written in chapel at Intermountain
Your wonderful children who spoke from their hearts in creating their poignant "Lord's Prayer" is profoundly inspirational. Thank you so, so much for posting Chris. Absolutely beautiful... You are truly a Human Angel Chaplain Haughee.
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Re: For those that ordered... the trauma-informed curriculum for churches is headed out the door this week!
Thanks for putting this together Chris! Well done!
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Re: Elevate Montana - Helena Affiliate and "trial run" of new trauma-informed curriculum for churches
Chaplain Chris - Thank you for your work in this area. I am connected with the faith based community in the Walla Walla area. We have been living the Paper Tigers story for several years. I applaud your connection between the science and Christian principles. Keep up the good work and keep the faith. Blessing
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Re: New Trauma-informed curriculum for training ministries available as an instant digital download!!
Not sure where this link is Week Two: Advocacy... what is this "trauma-informed" talk all about?; key idea: In order to advocate for children and families impacted by trauma, your church should consider trauma-informed ministry [ a copy of the print portion of this lesson is linked below for those that want to 'get a feel' for the curriculum!] ?
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Re: New Trauma-informed curriculum for training ministries available as an instant digital download!!
Good catch, Daun... I forgot to attach it. I'll fix that now, thanks! Chris
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Re: Building Resilience for Better Lives - from HelenaIR.com
Chris, Great post. Thank you for the work you are doing. I would encourage you to include hope. There is so much in the Bible on the centrality of hope in people's lives. Hope is even more measurable and teachable than resilience. But thank you for connecting resilience to spirituality. It so crucial to so many that overcome trauma, violence, and adversity. My wife works at Mt. Miguel Covenant Village in San Diego and we attend a small Covenant Church. Mt. Miguel residents are huge...
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Re: Six-week adult Sunday school curriculum on trauma-informed ministry coming soon!
Hi Chris, Yes, I'd like to "test run" with you. James.Christy@aocLife.org How will you deliver the courses? Video? LMS? PDF?
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Re: Six-week adult Sunday school curriculum on trauma-informed ministry coming soon!
Hi, Chris, I'm interested in seeing what you have created. I've led/ invited a variety of presentations in my congregation, but we haven't had a coherent program of any sort specific to trauma. Please share. Peace, Jaime
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Re: Six-week adult Sunday school curriculum on trauma-informed ministry coming soon!
This is great! I would love to share this with my clergy network.
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Re: Six-week adult Sunday school curriculum on trauma-informed ministry coming soon!
Christina, Jaime, and James-- Thank you for your interest! I am building a list of those that are interested in testing out the curriculum, and the best way for me to get your information would be via email. Could you send me your contact information to chrish@intermountain.org if you haven't already? Thank you! Chris
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Chaplain Chris preaches on ACEs, Trauma, Jesus & the Children
Chaplain Chris Haughee of Intermountain Residential preaches on the connections between Jesus’ original disciples and the Church today, and the challenge of expressing love and acceptance to ALL children. He provides insight into the vital partnership between Intermountain and the local church to bring healing and hope to hurting children. Rev. Dr. Chris Haughee is author of a trauma-informed ministry resource used in over 35 states and five countries, called Bruised Reeds and Smoldering...
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Resilience for Children & Families: Being Brave When Things are Hard
Building Resilience with Children During Racial Discrimination & Violence: This attached Resilience Brief for Children has been the hardest one I have written yet. I have been an active advocate for the equal treatment of people from all backgrounds, religions, ethnic heritages, orientations, and families my entire life. It is hard to see the pain present today, not only due to COVID19 but also due to the harm and anger we see daily in the news. I want to share a story about the person...
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The Best for our Children: Considering ACEs in Voter Engagement.
The presidential race is a big-ticket item, but hundreds of other state and local races will impact critical issues like school funding, childcare and early education, nutrition programs, and health care. Every seat in the NC General Assembly is on the ballot, along with the Governor’s race, a US Senate seat, congressional races, and more. When it comes to elevating the importance of racial equity, voting is vital to make marginalized voices heard. Policies and systems can be changed by our...
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New devotional book, Hope for Healing, seeks to give trauma-informed ministry insight
I am proud/relieved/gratified at finally being able to share a labor of love with the "PACES" community. It has been a struggle, the book project--yes, but just life and ministry in general have been hard over the past year. My family and I, personally, continue to walk the path of navigating all the complexities that come from trauma and working through that trauma in the context of ministry. I understand that many of you are in the same situation and can understand. The book, Hope for...
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Re: New devotional book, Hope for Healing, seeks to give trauma-informed ministry insight
I just ordered it and I look forward to gleaning from your hard work! Thank you so much!
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Praise for "Hope for Healing" by Rev. Chris Haughee, 30-day trauma-informed devotional
"Don't take MY word for it... hear from those who were kind enough to review my new devotional and provide an endorsement." Pastor Chris Haughee purchase now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733812326 Give yourself thirty days to experience the profound ministry of Intermountain Residential in Helena, Montana! Hope for Healing is a unique devotional book. It comes from Rev. Dr. Chris Haughee's ministry as chaplain to severely emotionally disturbed children and their families, gleaned from...
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Praise for "Hope for Healing" by Rev. Chris Haughee, 30-day trauma-informed devotional
"Don't take MY word for it... hear from those who were kind enough to review my new devotional and provide an endorsement." Pastor Chris Haughee purchase now at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1733812326 Give yourself thirty days to experience the profound ministry of Intermountain Residential in Helena, Montana! Hope for Healing is a unique devotional book. It comes from Rev. Dr. Chris Haughee's ministry as chaplain to severely emotionally disturbed children and their families, gleaned from...
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Intermountain's chaplain and church liaison provide trauma-informed materials for Advent!
Does thinking about Advent planning already just stress you out? Concerned that as a trauma-informed congregation that whatever "pre-packaged materials" you might get haven't been appropriately vetted and will require you to add yet another "to-do" to an already full to-do list? If thinking about preparing for Advent already has you stressed out, don’t fear… Chaplain Sami Pack-Toner and Rev. Chris Haughee are here to help! Materials created in a trauma-sensitive setting and for...
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Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry (New Book!)
A new research-based book for children's ministry leaders explains trauma-informed principles in plain language using examples from real churches.
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Trauma-Informed Children's Ministry (New Book!)
A new research-based book for children's ministry leaders explains trauma-informed principles in plain language using examples from real churches.