Many of you may be familiar with the “Pair of ACEs” from the George Washington School of Public Health and the natural question that comes from this model – “What’s in your soil?” (If you aren’t familiar, learn more here.) Communities across the State of Kansas are starting conversations around, not only the impact of ACEs, but also the larger issues of Prevention, Health Equity, and Trauma-Informed Systems of Care. In June, the TISC team at WSU CEI had the opportunity to facilitate and hear about some of these conversations and we are so excited to see what comes next!

Here are just a few of the highlights from a very busy June here at CEI:

• Mitchell County Regional Medical Foundation (Beloit) hosted more than 45 participants from 5 counties in North Central Kansas to raise awareness about ACEs and Resilience and identify steps to use the information to build stronger relationships and networks in their communities.
• Pony Express Infant Toddler Services & the Marshall County Health Department (Marysville) hosted more than 25 community partners for a deep dive into ACEs and Resilience Science and to learn more about ways to become a more trauma-informed community.
• Riley County Infant Toddler Services (Manhattan) received targeted staff training on the impacts of ACEs on the children and families they work with, ways to support resilience building, and strategies for developing their own Compassion Resilience.
• DCCCA, Inc. continued their journey toward becoming a more trauma-informed organization by offering Trauma-Informed Care IRL training to their staff from across the state.
• Ascension Via Christi Family Medicine Residency Program (Wichita) continued their work to build the Compassion Resilience of the non-clinical staff in their clinics and train a new class of Family Practice Residents in the importance of screening pediatric patients for ACEs as part of a whole-child approach to care.
• Crawford County Health Department (Pittsburg) hosted nearly 30 community partners to raise awareness about ACEs and Resilience and identify steps to use the information to build stronger relationships and networks in their community.

Our team is privileged to be included in these conversations and thank all of these partners for their efforts to improve the "soil" and make their communities the best places to live, work, and play!

See you on the road to resilience for all!

V