PACES Connection and CTIPP invite you to join us on a Zoom call for statewide coordinators and community managers rom around the country on Wednesday July 28th from 1:00-2:00pm ET/10-11am PT

The call will cover several important and urgent issues coming out of Washington. First, a bipartisan group of four Senators has introduced the RISE from Trauma Act ( one-page summary attached ). This is the most powerful bill that Congress has ever introduced to address childhood and familial trauma in the context and the community.

Among other things, it would authorize $600 million a year for eight years for grants to trauma-informed community coalitions. Based on the feedback we regularly receive, one of the greatest needs of community coalitions is a steady source of funds. We need your support to help this important legislation get to the finish line. The Senators supporting the RISE Act have a two-pronged strategy, both of which require trauma-informed coalitions building up enthusiasm for this legislation at the local and state levels.

• One prong is to get as many Senators as possible to co-sponsor the bill. Trauma is a nonpartisan issue and the group introducing it is bipartisan, so it can be sold to members of both parties. We will provide a link for easy engagement, as well as sample language for email outreach to Senate staffers.
• The second prong is to seek to get the entire 8 years of funding at $600 million a year approved as part of the reconciliation package the Democrats are working on. This is a one-time opportunity, a maneuver that would eliminate the need to fight for appropriations each year. Achieving this will not so much require directly advocating for inclusion of the funds in the reconciliation bill as much as making the importance of trauma-informed initiatives be understood by your Senators.