On June 6, 2018, over 60 people gathered in mid-Santa Barbara County for a special convening of the KIDS Network.  The meeting was advertised among stakeholders as the unveiling of the 2017 Children's Scorecard and the launch of the Santa Barbara County ACEs Connection.  After receiving an overview of the Children's Scorecard, participants were invited to discuss the three objectives previously identified by stakeholders who met with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris in April.  These were support for expansion of universal pediatric screening for ACEs, incorporation of ACEs training and trauma-informed practices at the organizational level, and support for a steering committee to develop and implement a multi-year plan for Santa Barbara County. 

In the weeks leading up to the meeting, KIDS Network and SB ACEs Connection leaders applied to Leading from Within Impact Lab 1.0 to obtain support for the formation of the initial cross-sector steering committee that would organize the countywide resiliency movement.  The purpose of the steering committee, as outlined in the proposal, is to develop a strategic framework for comprehensively engaging and educating individuals and organizations about the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences and the importance of trauma-informed and resiliency-focused policies and practices.

Leading from Within Impact Lab 1.0 chose the SB ACEs Connection as their pioneer project, recognizing its potential for creating social sector impact on a broad scale.  Impact Lab will provide facilitation and leadership support for SB ACEs Connection as we form a steering committee that will draft a statement of purpose, principles and goals, to be presented to the KIDS Network on September 5, 2018. The ACEs Steering Committee will ideally be a model for the healthy, resilient relationships that we hope to foster within our families, communities and organizations.