Tagged With "engaging youth"
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Structural Oppression is Trauma: Resources from the Resilient Sacramento Best Practices Presentation
Our June meeting focused on best practices in broadening the trauma lens to include structural oppression. Key resources attached.
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Supporting Safety and Well-being of Children and Families during COVID-19
The following information is from a tip sheet created by Sacramento County. To access the tip sheet for the full copy, please access it at the link below: The outbreak of COVID‐19 is a concern on everyone’s mind. While we may be comforted to know that the risk to our children’s physical health from the outbreak itself appears to be low, child and family serving agencies are worried about the increased risk for child abuse and neglect during this time of crisis and economic insecurity .
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The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRC) first Quarterly Adaptation Exchange in 2018
The Capital Region Climate Readiness Collaborative (CRC) conducted our first Quarterly Adaptation Exchange in 2018 on how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can be a detriment to an individual’s physical, social, and mental health that has lasting effects into adulthood. Climate impacts and an individual’s and/or community’s capacity to respond to trauma with resilience is intrinsically tied to access to a support system, resources, and past traumas. The reality is with Climate...
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The Developing Brain & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Thanks to an explosion in scientific research now possible with imaging technologies, such as fMRI and SPECT, experts can actually see how the brain develops. This helps explain why exposure to adverse childhood experiences can so deeply influence and change a child's brain and thus their physical and emotional health and quality of life across their lifetime. The above time-lapse study was conducted over 10 years. The darker colors represent brain maturity (brain development). I have added...
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The Economics of Child Abuse: A Study of California
While the impact of maltreatment on a child and their family is devastating, child maltreatment also has serious effects far beyond those for the victim. Maltreatment results in ongoing costs to taxpayers, institutions, businesses, and society at large. Local communities bear the brunt of these costs in the form of medical, educational, and judicial costs, though more tragic signs are seen in homelessness, addiction, and teen pregnancy. To create a concrete understanding of the widespread...
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The Impact of Mind Matters: Early Results from the University of Louisville’s Pilot Study
Becky Antle, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work and esteemed University Scholar at the University of Louisville, won The Dibble Institute’s national competition to evaluate Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience in 2019. As a result, Dr. Antle and her colleagues are conducting a randomized control trial to examine the impact of Mind Matters on a host of outcomes related to youths’ emotional regulation, anxiety, interpersonal skills, and resilience. Join the researchers on...
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The man in charge of Sacramento's new anti-gun violence program was once a shooter himself (sacbee.com)
Thirty years before Julius Thibodeaux became the leader of Sacramento's controversial new anti-gun violence program, Advance Peace , he was a shooter himself. He pulled the trigger on his first victim when he was 15 — over a $5 dispute. Now, he has been hired by the city of Sacramento to run Advance Peace as it expands here . The program matches dangerous young people with elders who have lived similar lives. Often felons like Thibodeaux, these mentors have criminal infamy that still carries...
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The many faces — and aspirations — of all of us at ACEs Connection
All of us at ACEs Connection have experienced ACEs during our childhoods, either in our own families or vicariously through friends; some of us accumulated pretty high ACE scores, with not enough resilience factors, and we’ve suffered the consequences. That history propels us up and out of bed every single morning to grow this network of amazing people (that’s you!) to reach even more people so that kids don’t have to repeat what we went through. We want more of our taxes to go to such...
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The Sacramento play TRIGGER raises awareness about the impact of trauma on youth lives
The original play TRIGGER, written and directed by Resilient Sacramento member DeAngelo Mack and acted by local youth, was a smash hit.
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The seven leaders who are putting the focus on Sacramento’s black children [Sacramento Bee]
The chatter of children in a bright yellow activity center is the only sign of life in south Sacramento’s otherwise desolate Phoenix Park apartment complex. Inside, children line up for an after-school snack before shuffling to supervised recess and homework help with the Focus on Family Foundation, a local nonprofit group. Many of the kids come from homes riddled by domestic conflict, said director Jackie Rose, and if not for the daily program, they wouldn’t have access to healthy foods,...
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Toxic Stress, Behavioral Health, and the Next Major Era in Public Health by Mental Health America
To view the document, click on the following link: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/toxic-stress-behavioral-health-and-next-major-era-public-health
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Toxic Stress, Toxic Streets (4 minute video)
This video is about 2 years old, but I just came across it last week and wanted to share with you all. It is a powerful statement by the students at Leadership High School in San Francisco, CA. They speak about the ongoing adversity and toxic stress in their daily lives and in their community, all through the power of music. The youth voice is so important as we work to bring trauma-informed and resilience building practices to communities. Link to video: Toxic Stress, Toxic Streets
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Trauma and Healing Learning Series Launches on May 30 in Sacramento! Tickets still available.
How does racism impact health? Come discuss this topic and more at the launch event of the Trauma and Healing Learning Series on May 30!
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Trauma Informed Practice in Schools is Gaining Momentum in CA legislature
On AB 1808: "Emphasized under that umbrella will be restorative justice, social emotional learning and other alternatives that focus on mediation and building healthy relationships over traditional punishments."
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Trauma Informed Principles through a Culturally Specific Lens (pdf)
This document attempts to define the core principles of trauma informed work through a culturally specific analysis. The content of this resource is primarily intended for culturally specific, communitybased organizations and seeks to provide practitioners with accessible language to describe the trauma informed/culturally specific overlap of their work. In our experience at Casa de Esperanza, as a national technical assistance provider, we come in contact with many culturally specific...
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Trauma Screenings Advisory Group (AB 340) Hosts First Meeting
On Friday, April 20, 2018, the AB 340 Workgroup, otherwise known as the Trauma Screenings Advisory Group, met for the first time to discuss the legislative charge to update, amend, or develop, if appropriate, tools and protocols for screening children for trauma as defined, within the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit in Medi-Cal. Both Children Now and Center for Youth Wellness were appointed members of the Trauma Screenings Advisory Workgroup, and we...
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Trauma Sensitivity at the Sacramento Library Made National News
“I would notice how popular teen books on these topics were, but how rare actual questions about them from teen library patrons were,” Azevedo said. “Most of the topics would be embarrassing to ask about, but some of them could...
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Traumatic Brain Injury and the Relationship to ACEs
Laura Williams, MA, LPC spoke on the relationship between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ACEs at the Oct 8 Resilient Sacramento Meeting. One striking research finding was the rate for TBI is increased in children and youth who have pre-injury psychiatric disorders and those who are experiencing high psychosocial risk (ACEs). In her work at the Veterans Treatment Courts in Colorado Springs and Denver, assessments showed over 80 percent of the clients had both ACEs and TBI. A lively...
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Two New Grant Opportunities for Youth Development and Diversion Services
In 2019, more than $40 million will become available to fund community-based, culturally rooted, trauma-informed services for youth in California as alternatives to arrest and incarceration. Thousands of California youth are arrested every year for low-level offenses. Youth who are arrested or incarcerated for low-level offenses are less likely to graduate high school, more likely to suffer negative health-outcomes, and more likely to have later contact with the justice system.
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Upcoming Workshop (2/22/16): "No Such Thing As a Bad Kid"
No Such Thing As a Bad Kid: Understanding and Responding to Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Challenges Using Positive, Strength-Based Approaches ($75; purchase orders accepted)
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Video: Sierra Health Foundation Speaker Series - Race, Racism and Otherness: A Conversation with john a. powell
To view this video, click here . On May 22, 2018, john a. powell, Director of UC Berkeley’s Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society and Author of Racing to Justice: Transforming Our Conceptions of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society, joined in conversation on Race, Racism and Otherness with a panel of diverse voices on the subjects of advocacy and social justice in the face of historical and modern displacement and marginalization — and opportunities for change. john a.
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Webinar — Moving to universal ACEs screening: Findings from a CA advisory group on screening children for trauma
On April 23rd, 2019 from 12:00pm-1:30pm PST the National Pediatric Practice Community on ACEs (NPPC) , an initiative of the Center for Youth Wellness, will be hosting a webinar to support efforts to screen all children for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and additional adversities. This webinar will summarize the findings of a state advisory group assigned to review tools and protocols for screening children for trauma, and provide an introduction to two tools the advisory group...
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Webinar Series – Putting Trauma-Informed Care into Practice: Lessons from the Field
Health policymakers and practitioners increasingly recognize trauma as an important factor that influences health throughout the lifespan. By incorporating trauma-informed approaches to care into their practice settings, provider organizations can more effectively care for patients and support efforts to improve health outcomes, reduce avoidable hospital utilization, and curb excess costs. This two-part CHCS webinar series will explore innovative strategies for implementing a trauma-informed...
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Welcome to Sacramento County ACEs Connection Group!
Hi everyone and welcome to the Sacramento County ACEs Connection group! We had a great first in-person meeting a couple of weeks ago and decided to meet monthly. Our monthly meetings will be held the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 4-5:30pm...
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Why Neuroscience, Positive Feedback Are Transformative in Youth Work [youthtoday.org]
I am a long-time advocate for how the power of neuroscience can transform the youth-serving profession. When combined with a commitment to putting the needs of youth first and a sizable dose of courageous leadership, the insights and practical guidance provided by brain research can have remarkable results. A prominent example of the transformational application of this “secret recipe” can be found at the Sacramento County (California) Youth Detention Facility (YDF). In 2010, Sacramento...
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YBRS survey and report from Monroe County, New York
Elizabeth Meeker, an ACEs Connection member from Monroe County, New York shared that her county schools added ACEs questions to their Youth Behavioral Risk Survey (YBRS) in 2015, which is administered to students in schools. They were kind enough to share the instrument as well as a summary report of findings (both attached here). Elizabeth has indicated that she is available to answer questions that you all may have about the implementation of the survey. Thank you Elizabeth, for sharing!
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Youth Mental Health First Aid Training's 2016
Get trained and certified in YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YMHFA) You could save a life. Community members, teachers, youth workers, and parents in 11 high-need Sacramento County neighborhoods will be trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) , at no cost to participants , through a 3-year project funded by a "Now is the Time" Project AWARE Community Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). YMHFA is an...
Calendar Event
3rd Annual Sacramento Youth Mental Health Community Forum
Calendar Event
6th Annual Boys & Men of Color Summit
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Cherokee Point Youth Leaders learn about Child Abuse Prevention month
Read below about what Cherokee Point, San Diego Youth Leaders are doing. Something to strive for to engage our youth voices in Sacramento? Some days at work are better than others. Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in awhile! I had the chance to speak to a small group of youth leaders from Cherokee Point Elementary School on Wednesday. As a representative of the Chadwick Center for Children & Families, I came to talk with them about Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) month, which is...
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Childhood Sexual Assault is the Theme for Book Signing in Davis [DavisVanguard.org]
On Thursday, July 30, 2015, at 6:30 PM at the Davis Odd Fellows Hall, Ellyn Bell and Stacey Bell will be confronting the issue of childhood sexual assault with a book signing and talk about their latest book, “ Singing with the Sirens:...
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#ChildrenCanThrive Day of Action: How to Address Early Childhood Adversity and Build Resilience in Children - February 18th
On Thursday, Feb. 18, join the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Center for Youth Wellness (CYW) for a day of action to raise awareness about adverse child experiences and the health effects of toxic stress in children.
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Coming next week! FREE training on Youth Mental Health First Aid
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is an 8 hour in-person certification training that teaches you how to help a young person who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis or developing a mental health problem. Receive this training for free in Sacramento! Click link within to register.
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Created for and by Sacramento youth: Come see TRIGGER
DO NOT MISS THIS PLAY! Mark your calendars for March 24 & 25. Playwright is our own DeAngelo Mack! Along with his young people served through SVIP. Trigger follows a small group of young individuals through a journey of discovery and healing.
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Crocker Art Museum's Sutter Teen Waived Admission Program
Crocker Art Museum, with the help of a grant from Sutter Health Valley Operating Unit Community Benefits, has established The Sutter Teen Waived Admission Program. The program grants free Museum admission to teens living in Sacramento’s underserved communities. The intent of the Sutter Teen Waived Admission Program is to create greater access to the Museum and to art education experiences that can inspire and encourage youth who are facing adverse childhood experiences. “Our students, for...
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CSSP: On resilience building
The Center for the Study of Social Policy is doing some amazing work on defining and building capacity for resilience in communities. I've attached their Protective Factors framework as a resource for our group.
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CYW releases "Children Can Thrive: A Vision for California's Response to ACEs"
The Center for Youth Wellness released a new report “Children Can Thrive: A Vision for California’s Response to ACEs”. This report is a follow up to last November’s Children Can Thrive Summit. ...
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DeAngelo Mack to be a highlighted speaker at Sacramento's Creative Mornings
We are very excited to announce that @DeAngelo Mack has been selected by “Creative Morning’s” to share at their TedTalk style event this month around the creative work he does at the Sacramento Violence Intervention Program (SVIP). The talk will be focused around TRIGGER and ACEs and the work being done to create a safe space to express the effects of trauma through art. For more information, click here . From the site: DeAngelo Mack leads the acclaimed Sacramento Violence...
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Do you live in Arizona, Hawaii, California, Nevada or the US Pacific Islands? Come to our no-cost mental and school mental health Winter Institute!
Do you live in Arizona, Hawaii, California, Nevada or the US Pacific Islands?If so...Check it out! 👇 NO COST. MENTAL HEALTH & SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH WORKFORCE. AMAZING FACULTY. JANUARY 14, 15, & 16th! LONG BEACH, CA. JOIN US. 🤝 👏 Learn more here: http://bit.ly/mhttc-winterinstitute-flyer Register here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07egq2f9gaebafa6bd&llr=8wdk4ubab
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Dr. Ken Epstein Speaks About Trauma-Informed Work
In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the California Departments of Public Health, Health Care Services and Social Services, and multiple community partners welcomed Dr. Kenneth Epstein to speak about his work highlighting trauma and resilience-informed practices. The event was also co-sponsored by ACEs Connection Network, Kaiser Permanente, and UC Davis Medical Center. Dr. Epstein leads the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s (SFDPH) Trauma-Informed Systems Initiative,...
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Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris Shares Concerns About The Impact COVID-19 Is Having On Blacks [sacobserver.com]
Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris joined Gov. Newsom for the first time last week to announce a number of actions leaders have taken to address the pandemic. By Genoa Barrow, Sacramento Observer, April 17, 2020 As a pandemic sheds a spotlight on long-standing health inequities for African Americans, California’s surgeon general looks to find lasting solutions. Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris was named to the new position created by Gov. Gavin Newsom in January 2019. She is an African American pediatrician,...
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Early childhood educators learn new ways to spot trauma triggers, build resilience in preschoolers
A hug may be comforting to many children, but for a child who has experienced trauma it may not feel safe.
That’s an example used by Julie Kurtz, co-director of trauma informed practices in early childhood education at the WestEd Center for Child & Family Studies (CCFS), as she begins a trauma training session. Her audience, preschool teachers and staff of the San Francisco-based Wu Yee Children’s Services at San Francisco’s Women’s Building, listen attentively.
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Eleven state-specific profiles feature ACEs-related data and ACEs/trauma-informed/resilience-building initiatives
One of the resources shared with participants in the Sept. 13-14 convening of First Spouses in Milwaukee to address trauma was a series of state information sheets that featured data on ACEs prevalence and ACEs/trauma-informed/resilience-building initiatives. These one-pagers provided a succinct summary of state highlights on trauma that in some instances were well known to the First Spouses but for others, provided new information. In partnership with state trauma leaders, ACEs Connection...
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Event: Helping Children Heal: Fostering Love, Hope, and Justice
Here's an opportunity to learn more about the UCSF HEARTS program that has been discussed in recent meetings, as well as be introduced to the RYSE Youth center. This event will be held in nearby Richmond, CA. To register, click the link at the...
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Explore NPPC’s New ACEs Screening Resources Website
Join the National Pediatric Practice Community on ACEs (NPPC) on Wednesday, April 25 at 12:00 PM PST for a Q&A session and an exploration of its new member website, which provides a wide range of resources to help pediatric practices make the case and implement screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). NPPC is an initiative of the Center for Youth Wellness.
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February Meeting Summary
We are ready to start a subcommittee on developing informational materials and subcommittee to develop the goals for a steering group for Sacramento County ACEs Working Group. Send a note to Gail (gkennedy@acesconnetion.com ) if you have interest in serving on either of these committees.