Here is the followup exchange presentation given yesterday 9/8 in Alpena. Wanted to review ACEs, go over toxic stress and give a followup on the work we have been doing in Alpena and where we hope to go. No volunteers to join our group. However, asked that if the group hosts other presenters who may be interested to let them know about us. Making a collection of power points that can be used in our rural community to educate folks on ACEs and Toxic Stress. Any ideas of how to spread the word...

Very cool. There was a time and even now. I could use such a service dog. There is a big internal push to not report sexual assault. I wouldn't because I did not want to be re-traumatized by this system that is very adversarial and tends to blame the one assaulted.

We had a great meeting with our local Human Services Coordinating Committee today. It was a great opportunity to reach out to others. We also received the opportunity to put our survey monkey community ACEs Survey on the Alpena Public Schools Facebook Page which will give us a great opportunity to reach out for a more comprehensive local ACEs survey as they recently had 50,000 views. The powerpoint for the Presentation is below in the attachments with the videos embedded in the presentation.

I recently viewed Lady Gaga's new video,  Till It Happens to You . I have stifled my rage for a number of years now, because it wasn't my trauma and the healing process is about meeting someone where they are. But, I am a mother. It is my trauma....

    The woman, a victim of an assault, sat in the courtroom’s witness chair and started to talk. As she told a judge what happened and how it affected her – giving what’s called a victim impact statement – the woman...

After learning about the overwhelming effects of childhood trauma, I decided to make a film about a school that’s adopted a “trauma-informed” lens. Documentaries are no walk in the park. They take a lot of time and money; they have a...

  Creating and Advocating for Trauma-Sensitive Schools Volume 2 of Helping Traumatized Children Learn: Creating and Advocating for Trauma-Sensitive Schools, safe, supportive learning environments that benefit all children offers a Guide...

A few months ago I published a blog, " A Mother's Rage". I re-accounted my rage and helplessness regarding my daughter's high school rape in Miami, FL. I ended my post with words of hope. I wrote how several years had passed since my daughter's assault. She was now engaged and pregnant with my first grandchild.  This is the rest of the story. I held my daughter's hand as she labored through the night with my grandson. I tried to comfort her fiancee who felt helpless. I rubbed her back,...

This is a Little Late but for Those on the Group who are Interested, I wanted to put this event here.  I signed up.  It is from 12:00 - 1:30 EST tomorrow.  GoTo Webinars are easy to sign up for. Just register at the link in this Blog. ...

What if I told you that I was a victim of child sex abuse? As a survivor of child sexual abuse , I have a clear understanding of the importance of addressing stigma and shame as it pertains to sexual abuse, sexual assault and rape. Victims, especially young children, often do not disclose sexual abuse. Those who are witnesses of child sexual abuse, or who are trusted by survivors enough that they confide in them, are often ill-equipped to handle the responsibility. And, many times, parents...

Here in California, many people think that it’s only liberal Democrats who have a corner on championing the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and putting it into practice. That might be because people who use ACEs science don’t expel or suspend students, even if they’re throwing chairs and hurling expletives at the teacher. They ask "What happened to you?" rather than "What's wrong with you?" as a frame when they create juvenile detention centers where kids don’t fight, reduce...