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Trauma Awareness and Trauma

Responsive Care Symposium

The Collaboration 

As neighboring Healthy Start partners providing maternal and child health services for Metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Healthy Start Initiative (AHSI) of the Center for Black Women’s Wellness, Inc. and the Healthier Generations Project (HGP) of the Clayton County Health District collaborate on several initiatives to improve perinatal outcomes in the region.  The “A Call to Action, A Call to Heal: Understanding the Impact of Complex Trauma in Communities” Symposium is a result of the Community Action Networks (CANs) collaborative endeavors.

The Symposium 

We are eager and passionate to offer our first community collaborative of Year Two of the Health Resources Services Administration- Bureau of Maternal and Child Health “Healthy Start” Award.  We’ve distinguished this symposium as a unique forum where consumers, providers and direct service workers enhance their awareness of trauma exposure and strategies to recover, cope and/or heal. Our ultimate goal is for the symposium to be an informative exchange for all participants in our collective quest to eliminate health disparities, trauma exposure and poor birth outcomes.   

2020 Goals of The AHSI and

HGP Community Action Networks (CAN) 

Common Agenda

To establish a common agenda based on asset mapping, community needs assessment and social determinants of health.

Collective Impact

Establish Collective Impact Focus Groups to build community, engage partners to impact target perinatal/MCH outcomes, provide mutually reinforcing activities to support perinatal/MCH outcomes; measure/evaluate community awareness and response to health promotion and health education initiatives.

Systems Integration

To promote local, state and national systems change and the successful integration of services addressing the social determinants of health.

Symposium Speakers and Facilitators

Vic Bolton

Confirmed- President of Capital, Strategic Communications- A highly accomplished communications professional with an extensive background in public relations, strategic messaging, crisis communications, governmental affairs, marketing communications, media relations, sales/marketing and leadership development. Adept in planning and conducting programs designed to create and maintain favorable public image for employers and clients. Excels in building and leading high-performing teams to surpass expectations. Articulate communicator with strong writing, presentation and interpersonal skills. Veteran spokesperson, speaker, speech writer and media trainer.   

Stan Sonu, M.D.

Invited-Assistant professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine; Associate Program Director for the Emory J. Willis Hurst Internal Medicine Residency program at Grady Health System.

Joan Gillece, PhD.

Confirmed- Former Project Director for two SAMHSA Ceters: The National Center for Trauma Informed Care and the SAMHSA National Technical Assistance Center for the Promotion of Trauma Informed Practice and Prevention of Seclusion and Restraint.  With over 30 years of experience working in the behavioral health field with 15 dedicated to trauma and six in prevention of seclusion and restraint, Dr. Gillece is the Director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors . Working across agencies, Dr. Gillece has provided technical assistance and support to publicly funded systems in a variety of settings. Relevant interagency training, technical assistance and collaboration include agencies serving individuals with HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, specialty courts, homelessness, older persons, juvenile and adult justice, and developmental disabilities.

Becky Haas

Confirmed- Developed a remarkable Trauma Informed System of Care recognized by SAMHSA as a model for other cities to follow. Skilled in Public Speaking and ACEs/trauma informed care education to a cross sector of professionals including healthcare, law enforcement, judicial, and education. Received national recognition for crime prevention programs. Co-Authored a toolkit for the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services on “Building a Trauma Informed Community” now recommended by international online journal ACEs Connection in "Growing Resilient Communities 2.1." Developer of Trauma Informed Policing training Certified in Tennessee and Oklahoma as Officer In-Service.

Linda Henderson-Smith, PhD

Confirmed- Dr. Henderson-Smith provides trauma prevention and trauma informed services for local, state and federal agencies nationwide. Linda Henderson-Smith, Ph.D., LPC, has more than 18 years of clinical and administrative experience in community-based mental health. She joined the National Council in May 2016 after working at the Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health as the director of mental health planning and policy.

Justin Perry MSW, LCSW, LCAS, CSI

Confirmed- Providing high quality therapy for people coping with challenges of insecurity, shame, and personal relationship struggles. As a dually licensed clinician, I bring a unique competence in treating mental health and substance use disorders independently or in co-occurring form. As a Certified Clinical Supervisor Intern (CSI) with over 45 hours of supervisory training, I provide supervision to professionals pursuing their LCSW, and/or LCAS, LPC. Passionate clinician, and also a proud social justice warrior.

Virtual Symposium Dates & Times

Zoom Link will be sent after you have registered!

Wednesday, June 17th, 2020

• Welcome and Symposium Overview 
• Screening of Resilience Documentary
• Panel Discussion and Call to Action 
• Spin the Wheel of Health/Break
• Fatherhood Speaker Series- The Healthy Start GA Collaborative
• Understanding Ethno-Historic Trauma and Systemic Practices
• “A Call to Action” Surviving and Thriving
• Empowered to Heal
• Table Talk

Thursday June 18th

• Understanding ACES and COVID -19
• Moving Beyond the Prevalence of Trauma to Supporting Survivors in Empowerment and Healing
• A Call to Empower and Heal
• Building a Trauma Informed System of Care
• Closing Reception- Jeff Sparks Winning Recording Jazz Artist

Registration is free. Click Here to Register

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