The Potts Family Foundation supports a vital program that is helping Oklahomans become aware of the Adverse Childhood Experiences study (ACEs Study) and the risks that trauma and toxic stress can impose on our health and development, especially when experienced before the age of 18. This initiative also highlights the protective factors that we, as individuals, families, workplaces and communities, can foster that decrease the negative impact of adversities and allow people and communities to thrive.
When examining best practices to address adversities, trauma and toxic stress, an organization, school or community begins the process of becoming “trauma informed.” It is very important to define “trauma informed” so our shared language is consistent. According the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services, a trauma-informed approach “involves (1) realizing the prevalence of trauma in the lives of the youth and families being served across service sectors; (2) recognizing the impact of trauma on youth, families, service providers and organizations, and communities; (3) responding collectively in ways that are informed by an understanding of trauma and what is needed to support recovery and resilience; and (4) resisting enacting policies or engaging in practices that are retraumatizing for youth and families across systems” (SAMHSA, 2014).
According to best practices supported by SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Network and a multitude of local and state initiatives and universities across our country, one of the beginning phases of the trauma informed approach is spreading consistent, accurate knowledge about the ACEs study and the neurobiological impact adversities and stress can have on the body, brain and brain development which also can impact certain skill development. There must also exist a consistent dissemination of information to help support those impacted by trauma by increasing protective factors including building safety and attachment and increasing capabilities.
Therefore, an agency, school or community becoming trauma informed or promoting training as trauma informed, must ensure the process begins with education that expands trauma awareness and understanding for all people involved, including staff, clients, students, families or community members.
Potts Family Foundation supports an initiative aimed at sharing knowledge and understanding about trauma’s impact on brains, bodies and our society as a whole, as well as what each one of us can do to mitigate negative impacts and foster resilience. For the past few years in Oklahoma, they have offered, and continue to offer, viewings of the documentary, Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope and assist the hosting agency or community in securing panelist to process the documentary with the audience after the screening. More recently they have supported the training of 31 professionals across our state in the NEAR Science- Beyond ACEs. (This blog supplies more information about that program.) This team of trainers, called Community Resilience Trainers, use consistent curriculum created by Laura Porter and Dr. Rob Anda of ACE Interface to spread research-based information about the Neurobiology and Epigenetics of trauma, the ACEs Study and Resilience factors. Both the screenings and presentations are offered free of charge and in live, virtual or hybrid formats.
The team of Community Resilience Trainers began presenting in mid-April this year. Since that time, they have already presented over 33 hours in 15 presentations and impacted almost 550 participants. The team has nine presentations currently scheduled with new dates continuing to be scheduled each week. They are presenting at major conferences in our state including the Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Zarrow Mental Health Symposium, Region IV Head Start Conference, Oklahoma Partner in Public Health and several others.
The Potts Family Foundation and Community Resilience Trainers are dedicated to spreading knowledge that is backed by science and research and is presented in a consistent format. Using accurate, common language to spread understanding about trauma and adversities is the initial step to becoming trauma informed. The Community Resilience Trainers are a main part of that growing movement sweeping across Oklahoma spreading awareness.
For more information about this initiative visit our community group, Raising Resilient Oklahomans, on PACEsConnection.com. For digital flyers about scheduling a documentary screening or a NEAR Science- Beyond ACEs presentation in Oklahoma, visit Raising Resilient Oklahomans, click on Resources for Downloading/Presentations then choose either Resilience Documentary Screening Flyer or NEAR Science- Beyond ACEs Flyer. You can also contact Linda Manaugh to schedule documentary screenings in OK at lmanaugh@pottsfamilyfoundation.org and contact Cheryl Step to schedule NEAR Science-Beyond ACEs presentations in OK at cstep.cr@gmail.com
Written by Cheryl Step Creating Resilience
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