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The Rev. Darrell Armstrong, pastor of the historic Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, New Jersey, is an accomplished man. He graduated from Stanford University in public policy and went on to get his master’s degree in divinity studies at Princeton. As a former director in the New Jersey Department of Human Services, he was responsible for New Jersey’s statewide strategy for preventing child abuse and neglect. Armstrong has also worked as an entrepreneur, workshop facilitator, and radio host.

By Jennifer Huffman, Napa Valley Register, April 9, 2021 For students from disadvantaged backgrounds or who have endured trauma, the instinct to keep that history private can be strong. Yet David Diaz has some advice. “Tell your story,” said Diaz. Don’t be afraid to share your experiences because they might make a difference. [ Please click here to read more .]

A corner of the Multi-Sensory De-escalation Room, All MSDR photos courtesy of Valerie Clark When a young person enters the de-escalation room in the Sacramento County Youth Detention Facility , they’ll find dimmed lights, bottles of lavender, orange and other essential oils, an audio menu featuring the rush of ocean waves and other calming sounds, along with squeeze balls, TheraPutty, jigsaw puzzles, and an exercise ball to bounce on. TheraPutty, squeeze balls and more Sometimes, with a...

Monday Night Meditation 7pm - 8pm each week Learn Mindfulness Meditation with Joanie Lane Meditation can be helpful in living a more joyous and fulfilling life by reducing your stress and keeping you grounded in peaceful presence. Meditation is simple and easy to learn with guidance and instruction. Joanie Lane is an international meditation teacher and graduate of Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach's Mindfulness Meditation Teacher's Certification Program. She's been helping people learn to...

By Sarah Klearman, Center for Health Journalism, February 18, 2021 It’s been a hell of a year for just about everyone in California’s Napa Valley. This community, like just about every other in America, continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic in the form of loss of life, sickness, lockdowns and job loss. But Napa Valley is also grappling, too, with the aftershocks of two devastating wildfires, both of which dealt serious blows to the hospitality and wine industries here, the two...

Dynamic Coaching is a blend of reflective and directive approaches to develop and support others in their role as parents, team members, and leaders. Participants will gain skills in navigating difficult conversations; motivating adults, youth and children; teaching; group facilitation; parenting; and more! Register Here!

On Tuesday March 30 at 1:00 pm (PST) join 4CA as we look at policy opportunities and challenges in the area of childhood adversity in the context of 2021 and beyond.

Thank you to Aidan Phillips from the WAVE Trust for his excellent and engaging presentation for attendees of our monthly Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) call for March. The information he shared is invaluable as we continue our work to influence change at the national level through the National Trauma Campaign . If you were unable to join, would like to watch again, or want to share with others, you can find the call recording here . Additionally, if you would like...

California can support children and youth by tackling the state’s — and the country’s — legacy of White supremacy and replacing it with a trauma-informed approach of love, empathy, and support.

Please join us for our next installment of A Better Normal, our live webinar series in which we imagine and create our society as trauma-informed! You may have seen we changed our name recently from ACEs Connection to PACEs Connection. Please join us to learn all about the groundbreaking research of Positive Childhood Experiences and how this is going to transform the work we are all doing. >>Click here to register<< PACEs and HOPE Live Event Friday, March 26, 2021 Noon PT / 1pm...

By Linda Gilkerson and Kerry Cassidy Norton, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, March 2021 Within the past decade, home visiting programs for infants, young children, and families have greatly expanded. In 2018 alone, 286,108 families and 312,635 children received support through home visiting programs in the United States.1 This level of growth requires a skilled and supported workforce ready to address the complex challenges that families who are served experience. Home...

Widespread reporting has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated many poor communities of color. Less widely known is how the pandemic has affected young people in those communities. “COVID-19 has had a particularly harsh impact on youth of color,” further traumatizing [juvenile-justice] system-impacted youth and their families already struggling with disproportionately high rates of disease, death, job loss and housing insecurity,” said Jim Keddy of Youth Forward . Keddy was...