Tagged With "Aligning Systems for Health"
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A Story of ACEs and Resilience
Many of us are aware of ACEs and the effects it has on our children and on us. We must keep in mind that an ACE score is not the end. See the story of Pastor Darrell Armstrong of Trenton NJ.
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ACEs and the Unified Science of Human Development - Jane Stevens - Aug. 2, 2016 at California Home Visiting Summit
This is a repost from the Philadelphia ACEs group - attached is a PowerPoint from Jane Stevens, presented at the California Home Visiting Summit on August 2, 2016.
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ACEs Connection launches Cooperative of Communities
The ACEs Connection Cooperative of Communities launches today. We want to continue to contribute to the ACEs movement for as long as it takes to create a worldwide healing-centered culture based on ACEs science. We want that to take hold in this world in the same way electricity has — we only notice it if it isn’t there.
First, a clarification: Nothing on ACEsConnection.com changes! Membership remains free! Everything our current 300+ communities use stays free, and remains free for new ones.
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ACEs Connection's Inclusion Tool makes sure nobody's left out
We developed ACEs Connection's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Tool — called the Inclusion Tool, for short — to ensure that ACEs initiatives across the world focus on being inclusive when forming a steering committee, recruiting leaders, providing education about ACEs science, recruiting members, or providing resources and services within their communities. The more inclusive your ACEs initiative is, the more diverse it will be, giving your initiative a real shot at achieving equity and...
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Aligning Systems for Health: 2019 Call for Proposals [rwjf.org]
By Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, November 1, 2019 Required Components Aligning Systems for Health will explore the degree to which health equity is impacted or results from current models of collaboration incorporating health care, public health, and social services. Gaps in health are large, persistent and increasing, and RWJF is committed to a system that meets people’s goals and needs and addresses these gaps that many populations face. Studies should include a focus on health equity by...
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Allentown Headstart program focuses on kids dealing with trauma [whyy.org]
In a space that used to be an abandoned state hospital, Lora Lesak has created an early childhood classroom filled with natural light and comfortable chairs — a room designed to feel like a home. As director of Developmental Health Services for Allentown’s Community Services for Children, she says that’s exactly what children who’ve experienced trauma need. “We have gotten children that have needed to remain in the hospital for two weeks to be weaned of substances — whether it’s cocaine,...
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April 4th Policy Forum: A Rising Tide: Understanding Incarceration’s Multigenerational Impact on Women, Girls, and Communities (Philadelphia, PA)
The Stoneleigh Foundation and Maternity Care Coalition are hosting a policy forum on April 4 titled, “A Rising Tide: Understanding Incarceration's Multigenerational Impact on Women, Girls, and Communities.” This day-long event will bring together policymakers, system stakeholders, industry leaders, advocates, and community members to explore how incarceration affects women, girls, and parenting families and to identify solutions promoting their health and well-being. REGISTRATION:...
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April Pottstown Trauma Steering Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Initiative Community Steering Committee is scheduled for: Thursday, April 7 from 12:00-3:00 Place: Pottstown Area Health & Wellness F oundation We have a busy agenda for the meeting. Looking forward to seeing everyone! Welcome & Introductions Community Updates Communications Updates and Decision Points Overall language ACEsConnections.com Review of Logic Model and Workgroup Activities Communications Network Training General...
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Building Children's Brains [New York Times]
Take a look at today's article from Nick Kristof in the New York Times on the importance of early learning and challenges faced by children in poverty. Building Children's Brains Nicolas Kristof First, a quiz: What’s the most common “vegetable” eaten by American toddlers? Answer: The French fry. The same study that unearthed that nutritional tragedy also found that on any given day, almost half of American toddlers drink soda or similar drinks, possibly putting the children on a trajectory...
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Call For Workshop and Poster Submissions: Third Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference
The 3rd Annual Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference: Promoting Equitable Access to High Quality Services for Vulnerable Children and Families , will be held on Thomas Jefferson University's East Falls Philadelphia Campus July 29 th -August 1st, 2019 . This unique training conference will provide an intensive, collaborative, and engaging experience to providers, educators, and leaders across health, education, and social service disciplines, as well as to community members invested in...
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Childhood Trauma in Pottstown can Lead to Future Health Challenges [The Mercury]
Take a look at this great article from Mica about our Pottstown Trauma Informed Community work. POTTSTOWN >> A local initiative is bringing awareness to research that shows traumatic childhood experiences such as poverty, sexual abuse and drug addiction can lead to lifelong challenges in mental, social and physical health. Representatives of the school district, borough and police department, as well as several other organizations, have come together to form the Pottstown Trauma...
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Community Partner's Meeting Raffle Winners
Thank you everyone for a fantastic meeting! We are so proud of Pottstown's commitment to a Trauma-Informed Community. We are pleased to announce the winners of the Planning Assessment Raffle: 1) Brianna Ringwood - Montgomery County DA's Office 2) David Genova - Pottstown School District 3) Katie Anne Mantle - Creative Health We will follow-up individually with you to coordinate bringing you the gift cards. Thank you!
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Community Urged to Take Part in Pottstown Childhood Trauma Initiative [Mercury]
Thank you to everyone who attended our Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Connection meeting. It was great to see all of the interest and support of the work in Pottstown. Thank you to Mica Patterson for writing a great article in the Mercury. Please see below and click on link for full story. Community Urged to Take Part in Pottstown Childhood Trauma Initiative POTTSTOWN >> “Do you know anyone who has been divorced? I bet most of us could say yes. That is a person or a family that...
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Creating Trauma Informed Schools by Dr. Sandy Bloom
In June 2014, Dr. Sandy Bloom was the keynote speaker for the PEAK Annual Meeting and presented a training for teachers focusing on ACEs and becoming trauma informed schools. Below is a copy of her presentation. Sandra L. Bloom is a Board-Certified psychiatrist, graduate of Temple University School of Medicine and recently was awarded the Temple University School of Medicine Alumni Achievement Award. In addition to her faculty position at the School of Public Health at Drexel, she is...
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Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health & Trauma Conference
Thomas Jefferson University's newly formed Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health has generated its first-ever newsletter . If you're interested in trauma-informed training and education , or if you simply want to stay abreast of the work of some great clinicians, researchers, advocates and aspiring professionals, please have a look. The Community and Trauma Counseling program currently has Art Therapy options and is launching two new specializations and certificates this summer: (1)...
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Dr. Ratey - How Being Poor Makes You Sick
Check out this article from Dr. Ratey http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/05/poverty-makes-you-sick/371241/ Have a great day!
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Dr. Steve Berkowitz to deliver keynote at Brookside Country Club
The Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Connection group is underway in planning the January 31 Community Connection Connection Matters networking at 8:30 followed by a 9:00 am to 11:00 am meeting at Brookside Country Club where Dr. Steve Berkowitz, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Director Penn Center For Youth and Family Trauma Response And Recovery will speak on "Childhood Resiliency: Crisis, Early Intervention...
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Drexel Studies Show Intergenerational Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Food Insecurity [ASPPH]
ASPPH | Drexel Studies Show Intergenerational Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Food Insecurity New research from Drexel University’s Center for Hunger-Free Communities has added evidence on the relationship between food insecurity and adverse child experiences (ACEs). One study of 1255 female caregivers of young children, published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine , found that depressive symptoms and ACEs were independently associated with household and child food...
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Educators learn the ABCs of school wellness at Pottstown institute [PhoenixvilleNews.com]
Right before students are due to return for the fall session, tri-county area educators learned how to incorporate play into the school day during a wellness seminar at the Pottstown Middle School. About 160 people representing 13 area school districts attended the 2016 “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Institute” last week. The two-day event shows educators and school administrators how to incorporate physical fitness as well as other healthy activities into the school to create a better...
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Elizabeth Prewitt article on Trauma Informed Care Bill
A comprehensive Trauma-Informed Care bill quietly introduced in the final days of the 114th Congress Elizabeth Prewitt 2 hours ago In the final weeks of the 114 th Congress, Senators Heitkamp, Durbin, and Franken introduced The Trauma-Informed Care for Children and Families Act (S. 3519)—a wide ranging bill that proposes new strategies to expand trauma-informed best practices and models, train clinicians, law enforcement officials, teachers and health care providers in trauma-informed...
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Join Feb. 18th webinar on addressing ACEs in public policy
Please join this ACEs Connection co-sponsored webinar "Making Meaningful Change: Addressing ACEs through Public Policy" on Feb. 18 (11:30 am-1:00 pm ET) presented by the Health Federation of Philadelphia and MARC (Mobilizing Action for Resilient Communities). In this webinar, three nationally recognized experts will discuss policy and advocacy strategies on a local, state, and national level using evidence from studies they have conducted with legislators and the general public. Speakers...
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New Study Shows Communities Can Reduce the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences [Mathematica Policy Research]
A new study commissioned by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Public-Private Initiative (APPI) of Washington State finds that communities can create effective, local strategies that reduce the long-term social, emotional and physical problems related to abuse, neglect, and other Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Research shows that the prevalence of 10 specific ACEs—such as witnessing domestic violence or experiencing physical abuse—trigger a stress response that can harm a child’s...
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Organizations develop a Funders Guide to Trauma-Informed Practice
Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Connection is one of the featured stories in this resource. "Responding to the overwhelming demand of funders in the Delaware Valley to better understand the impacts of trauma on our region and how they can apply trauma informed practices to their own work, Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation, and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey partnered to produce this hands-on resource...
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Progress Towards Building an Affirming and Supportive Child Welfare System:
The data collection and analysis used in the IA attempts to uncover the experience of individuals as they encounter institutions and provide an understanding of how the institutions are organized to act in certain ways and recognizes that sometimes these ways are not aligned with their desired outcomes. The IA is grounded in the viewpoint of family members—children, fathers, mothers, and other primary caregivers. Allegheny County DHS leadership committed at the very beginning of this project...
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PTICC Featured in Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation Fall 2016 Well-Informed Community Benefit Report
Our work with ACEs and trauma in Pottstown was featured in the Fall 2016 Community Benefit Report issued by the Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation (PAHAWF). Within the feature, you can read about how we are becoming a trauma informed community, some scientific information about the effects of ACEs on the developing brain, a note from the President of the PAHAWF, and information from PEAK Coordinator and Chair of the Communications and Messaging for PTICC, Mary Rieck. There are...
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PTICC Launch Presentation
We had a great launch to our Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Connection with 126 participants. We will post more information about the meeting a little later but below is the presentation that was used. Thank you for being involved in this important work in Pottstown.
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[Repost from ACES in Child Care] Developing Healthy Minds: It’s Never Too Early to Start! [Blog.SAMHSA.gov]
Developing Healthy Minds: It’s Never Too Early to Start! [Blog.SAMHSA.gov] | ACEs in Child Care | ACEsConnection The human mind is one of the most complex structures in the universe. Even in early infancy, it is capable of taking in a wide variety of inputs. Still, in our early years, we’ve only unlocked a small portion of its potential. Our brains actually continue to develop into our twenties . Accordingly, the U.S. Government embraces a definition of youth that continues until we turn 25.
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Retiring Pottstown Superintendent Leaves Legacy [Reading Eagle]
This is an article in this past Sunday's Reading Eagle about the retirement of Dr. Jeff Sparagana. Thanks to him for his leadership for all these years and for his continued involvement. Joan Daly, former executive director of the Pottstown YMCA, recalled a meeting 11 years ago with Pottstown School District Superintendent Jeffrey Sparagana, then assistant superintendent, in which the seeds were planted for what would become one of Pottstown's most successful educational programs. "At the...
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Steering Committee Meeting Notes - May 24, 2016
See attached for the meeting notes from the May 24, 2017 meeting of the Pottstown Trauma Informed Community Connection Steering Committee
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Stress and Urban Poverty by Dr. Roy Wade, Jr.
Here is a presentation that was made by Dr. Roy Wade, Jr. in June 2015 at the PEAK Annual Meeting. Dr. Wade focused on the impact of stress and urban poverty on families and children and the expanded ACEs study. Dr. Roy Wade, Jr. is currently an Instructor of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in the Department of General Pediatrics. He recently completed a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Fellowship at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of...
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Studying How Poverty Keeps Hurting Young Minds, and What to Do About It [New York Times]
Take a look at this article from the New York Times concerning the impact of trauma on the developing brain. The human brain begins as a neural tube that develops five weeks after conception. Years later, it is fully formed. On Tuesday, experts in neuroscience, genetics and social work met in Manhattan to talk about what can happen to it along the way, and what emerging research tells us about how children who seem broken can be made whole. Officially, the meeting was called Poverty, the...
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Supporting Older Trauma Survivors as They Heal Their Pasts, Grow Their Futures
Marie-Monique Marthol handed out the cards to older adults at meetings of her local civic association. With the pastor’s permission, she left some at a neighborhood church. She stacked them in restaurants, community centers and even at the laundromat. On the front, the cards read, “Time never runs out for change. Let go of fear and guilt. Focus on healing and growth from ACEs.” The flip side said, “Healing from your past; giving to your future.” They were slogans fine-tuned through months of...
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Two studies shed light on state legislators’ views on ACEs science and trauma policy
New and returning lawmakers take the oath of office on day one of Washington state's 2017 legislative session. — Jeanie Lindsay/Northwest News Network As advocates prepare to see how ACEs (adverse childhood experiences) science, trauma, and resilience play out in the 2020 state legislative sessions — many beginning in January — they are undoubtedly asking: “What does a legislator want?" It may be a stretch to play on Freud’s question: “What does a women want?", but the query captures how...
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Webinar - Becoming Trauma-Informed: What Does this Mean for Non-Clinical Staff?
Take a look at this info about upcoming webinar: "Addressing trauma is now the expectation, not the exception, in behavioral health and community organizations. There is an urgency to spread the understanding of trauma far beyond the scope of the clinical and peer workforce to ensure everyone in an organization is becoming trauma-informed. But, what does “becoming trauma-informed” mean for direct care behavioral health and community providers? Join this upcoming webinar to learn the basics...
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What's Next For 'Safe Injection' Sites In Philadelphia? [npr.org]
Philadelphia is a step closer to opening what could be the nation's first supervised site for safe drug injection. But turning the idea into reality won't be easy. City officials gave the proposition the green light Tuesday. They were armed with feasibility studies , harrowing overdose statistics and the backing of key leaders, including the mayor and a newly elected district attorney. "There are many people who are hesitant to go into treatment, despite their addiction, and we don't want...
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With new proposal, trauma-informed care could become standard in Pa. schools [WHYY.org]
If a pair of powerful Pennsylvania state senators get their way, a burgeoning approach to managing student behavior could become a mandate. State Sens. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, and Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, announced a proposal last week to create a “trauma-informed system of education.” The central plank of their proposal is a requirement that all teachers, school board members, and school employees “with direct contact with students” receive trauma-informed training. The details don’t...
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Re: Mission Kids & Creative Health Journey to Healing [7 min]
Mission Kids, Montgomery County’s (PA) Child Advocacy Center, Creative Health Services, Pottstown’s Community Behavioral Health Center, the Pottstown Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office partner to provide a safe path for victims of child abuse and their families to undergo the interviewing process once and get connected to counseling and therapeutic services back in their hometown. Learn more about this path to healing.
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Wolf Administration Releases ‘Trauma-Informed PA’ Plan with Recommendations and Steps for the Commonwealth and Providers to Become Trauma-Informed [PA Governor Tom Wolf Press Release]
July 27, 2020 As a companion to Governor Tom Wolf’s multi-agency effort and anti-stigma initiative, Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters, the Office of Advocacy and Reform (OAR) is releasing the “Trauma-Informed PA” plan to guide the commonwealth and service providers statewide on what it means to be trauma-informed and healing-centered in PA. This plan is the result of four months of work from OAR and the Trauma-Informed PA Think Tank, formed in February. The think tank was made up of...
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Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network, first to join ACEs Cooperative of Communities, shows what it means to ROCK!
In 2012, Greater Richmond SCAN and five other community partners hatched a one-year plan to educate the Richmond, Virginia, community about ACEs science and to embed trauma-informed practices. Eight years later, the original group has evolved into the Greater Richmond Trauma-Informed Community Network (GRTICN) with 495 people and 170 organizations. And they're just scratching the surface.
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Hope and Progress, No Matter What! — an ACEs Connection/Cambia Health Foundation “Better Normal”, Oct. 22, 2020
The election is upon us. In two short weeks, we voters in this country decide who will lead us for the next four years. We have the opportunity to embrace — as a national priority — the tenets of understanding, nurturing and healing that underlie the science of adverse childhood experiences and move in a direction that embraces cultural and racial equity and anti-racism. Or not.
What is clear is that no matter what, the ACEs movement will continue.
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A Better Normal Community Discussion - Reimagining Health Care
In a conversational style, join physician Drew Factor who will speak with Dr. Tracy Gaudet, Liza Guroff and An é Watts in a discussion entitled "Reimagining Health Care". Dr. Gaudet will speak about her experience engaging in transformational change at the Veterans Administration and how this has shaped the development of her own Functional Medicine Institute, while Ms. Guroff and Ms. Watts will speak about their knowledge of a Trauma-Informed Approach both at a systems (National Council for...
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