Blog

Stressed? Anxious? A little overwhelmed and you havenʻt even stepped out the front door? When are under chronic stress and our stress response system is constantly activated, what is a symptom of stress, becomes a trait or characteristic in which we (or how we may judge others) are viewed. We often respond with the, “worse part of ourselves” as oppose to a “pause and check” which allows us to respond to situations with more clarity from our “higher” brain functions. Over the next serious of...

With the passing of SB2482, Hawaiʻiʻs 2022 by statute has become a Trauma-Informed Care state! Please join us on 11/03/22 at 9:00 a.m., HST, for this free webinar hosted by the Hawaiʻi Childrenʻs Action Network and PACES Connection Hawaiʻi PACES Connection Hawaiʻi. Click here to register. This webinar will cover: What is the "Office of Wellness and Resilience?" A breakdown of SB2482 The power of collective voices in building community resilience The importance of collaborative cross-sector...

New!! 48-HOUR HISTORICAL TRAUMA SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION in collaboration with THE INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL TRAUMA ASSOCIATION We are the only entity offering a comprehensive, 48-hour Historical Trauma Specialist Certification Program. The Program is broken into 6 levels and is built on a foundation of BIPOC cultures and neurobiology. It is taught from a multicultural perspective, injecting traditions and ideology from various cultures from around the world. In this inclusive study we rely...

Image: Audrey McAvoy/AP Author: To read Devan Cole's article, please click here. Hawaii’s Democratic governor moved to strengthen abortion protections in the state on Tuesday, issuing an executive order prohibiting officials on the islands from cooperating with states attempting to prosecute people who received the procedure legally in his state. “I am issuing an executive order protecting women who seek reproductive healthcare in Hawaii and medical professionals who provide it,” Gov. David...

October has been designated, "Depression and Mental Health Awareness" month. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is dedicated to provide resources and support for individuals and families who have been affected by mental illness. From NAMI-Hawaiʻi: " NAMI Hawaii Programs are for people whose lives have been affected by mental illness.  Through our free programs you’ll meet other families affected by mental illness of their loved ones or people living in recovery from mental...

There has been much research about Native Hawaiian youth suicide, but we should also highlight programs that infuse Native Hawaiian culture into their programming to build wellness and resilience. Programs such as, Hoʻo Kū ʻĀina , Kinai Ehā and Keiki ʻo Ka ʻĀinaʻs, "Board and Stone" class , have been a "canopy" of protection for our communities by promoting Native Hawaiian cultural practices, providing education and empowering Native Hawaiian communities. There are many more programs that...

This is a fascinating research piece from the American Journal of Public Health that draws the connection between certain risk factors (child sexual abuse, household dysfunction and other ACE categories) and adult and child hunger. It is dated (2004), but it does highlight the need for protective factors as a successful strategy in building wellness and resilience. I am highlighting this research piece because of the issue with inflation, housing and food insecurity, we need to uplift...

The Office of Wellness and Resilience , was celebrated today at the Hoʻokupu Center , marking a three year journey in Hawaiʻi becoming a Trauma-Informed State! SB2482 , introduced by Senator Donovan Delacruz and signed by Governor Ige, creates an office that is tasked with building wellness and resilience in the State of Hawaiʻi through a cross-sector/public and private partnership strategy that embeds Hawaiʻiʻs rich cultural practices (Native Hawaiian and other ethnicities) of healing with...

Summary What is already known about this topic? Drug overdose deaths increased 30% in the United States from 2019 to 2020. Known health disparities exist in overdose mortality rates, particularly among certain racial/ethnic minority populations. What is added by this report? From 2019 to 2020, overdose death rates increased by 44% and 39% among non-Hispanic Black (Black) and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons, respectively. As county-level income inequality increased,...

This is a great article to raise awareness both language and social emotional development for our early learners and their 'ohana. The mask mandate (I am an advocate for wearing a mask) could potential stunt the socio-emotional growth of a child. This is why it is so important for parents in the safety of the home, help their keiki with the learning and reading of social and emotional cues. Early childhood educators should consider providing resources to caregivers to help families with...

This is a great article that highlights the need to addresses the need for awareness and to grow mental health practices in Hawai'i. The article mentions the five-year Infant and Early Childhood Behavioral Health (IECBH) Plan that integrates mental health and trauma-informed care into the health and early learning systems throughout the state. A cross-sector approach to building wellness and resilience is definitely trauma-informed. Mahalo to Justina Acevedo-Cross and Erin Henderson Lacerdo...

May is, "Mental Health Wellness" month. I will be showcasing conferences and professional development opportunities that address mental health awareness by addressing and building wellness. The amazing folks at the Community Resilience Initiative are putting on their 7th annual Paper Tigers Conference. It is a virtual event that features experts from across the nation (including Hawai'i speakers) who are building wellness and resilience in their states. To register click on this link .