According to our KIDS COUNT Data Center 20 percent of children in Virginia have experienced two or more ACEs . ACEs can shape the course of children’s health and development over a lifetime. While 20 percent of Virginia’s children experience 2 or more ACEs, Black children experience almost double that rate . Racial trauma is the ongoing result of racism, racist bias, and exposure to racist abuse. Virginia’s 27+ Trauma-Informed Community Networks (TICNs) recognize, respond, and work to...

Update : Passed by the House and now headed to the Senate next. Delegate Lashrecse Aird has introduced House Joint Resolution No. 537, a resolution to declare racism as a public health crisis in Virginia. The American Public Health Association defines racism as a social system with multiple complex dimensions, including internalized or interpersonal individual racism and institutional or structural systemic racism, which unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, and unfairly...

Update : Passed by the House and now headed to the Senate next. Delegate Lashrecse Aird has introduced House Joint Resolution No. 537, a resolution to declare racism as a public health crisis in Virginia. The American Public Health Association defines racism as a social system with multiple complex dimensions, including internalized or interpersonal individual racism and institutional or structural systemic racism, which unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, and unfairly...

On August 2nd, the Governor of Virginia declared Virginia’s first Racial Truth and Reconciliation Week . Every Virginian must reckon with the state’s historical past and make intentional efforts to reconcile with the institution of American slavery and the racial inequity of today. Social progress occurs when we all work together to advance racial equity. The mission of Racial Truth & Reconciliation is to empower the voices and experiences of marginalized communities in acknowledgment of...

Voices for Virginia’s Children and the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Virginia has officially launched the Commonwealth's first-ever Racial Truth & Reconciliation Week. Over 50+ community leaders and organizations, public officials, advocates, artists, and more have joined forces.The event consists of 30 virtual programs that includes art showcases, yoga restoration activities, children’s book reading, and faith-based healing. This mission of the week is to promote healing, reconciliation,...

The Hampton Roads Trauma-Informed Community Network (HRTICN) is one of over 20+ community networks championing resilience in their community during this time. These networks raise awareness, conduct trainings, create and implement trauma-informed practices across an array of sectors, including schools, faith communities, courts, community services, and more. Audravette Jackson serves as the Hampton Roads Trauma-Informed Community Network coordinator, and the Children’s Hospital of King’s...

Currently, all communities face unprecedented times, and in the Winchester Area, this is no different. As a newly formed trauma-informed community network, network leader and Councilwoman Tina Culbreath-Stevens leads the charge in advocating for trauma-informed approaches for educators, policymakers, healthcare workers, and more to ensure their community understands the impact of trauma on children and families. Their goal is to implement wraparound services to foster resilience across...

The Beyond ACES: Impact of Race, Culture, and Poverty Summit was led by the Virginia Department of Health’s Crater Health District (CHD) with support from many partners, including those involved in the Southside Trauma-Informed Community Network (STICN). The Impact of Race, Culture, & Poverty Summit was held in August 2019 ( view the speakers here ). Brian Little with CHD, serves as the Special Projects Manager for Trauma Informed Care & Resilience and serves as the STICN convener.

During these uncertain times, we feel grateful to be able to continue our work to uplift the needs of children and families. Because of your advocacy, we were able to obtain a number of successes during the 2020 General Assembly Session. The included webinar highlights many of these successes. Some will move forward as anticipated while others will be put on "pause." COVID-19 presents additional opportunities to identify the needs of VA's children and continue advocacy as Congress and the...

The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27th to create a $2 trillion economic stimulus efforts for business, health care, communities, and families. Implementing the CARES Act will provide direct relief to some families and businesses. And it will require a number of policy choices by state and local leaders to determine how funds will be used in communities and which of the many pressing needs will be met. Learn more about what is included in the CARES Act to prepare to speak up for the...

“I know from personal experience that trauma can be life-changing, but I didn’t know that talking about trauma could change my life. And the lives of others,” said Theresa Caldwell, member of the Southside (TICN) Trauma-Informed Community Network , which is supported by the Crater Health District under the leadership of Dr. Alton Hart and Brian Little. The Network works to foster healthy communities through disease prevention and control, health promotion, environmental protection, and...

“I know from personal experience that trauma can be life-changing, but I didn’t know that talking about trauma could change my life. And the lives of others,” said Theresa Caldwell, member of the Southside (TICN) Trauma-Informed Community Network , which is supported by the Crater Health District under the leadership of Dr. Alton Hart and Brian Little. The Network works to foster healthy communities through disease prevention and control, health promotion, environmental protection, and...

Voices for Virginia’s Children held The Virginia Summit on Childhood Trauma and Resilience on April 25, 2019. The Summit featured an array of workshops, including The Intersection of Racial Inequity and Trauma led by The Southside Trauma-Informed Community Network (like their Facebook page here ). The presenters identified and discussed the challenges of racial inequities and how trauma may later present within people of color. The supporting organization of the Southside Trauma-Informed...

On Thursday April 25, 2019 Voices hosted over 950 attendees at the Virginia Summit on Childhood Trauma and Resilience . The goal of the Summit was to connect child-serving professionals and advocates across the Commonwealth to best practices to prevent, and better address, the impacts of childhood adversity. California’s first Surgeon General and well-known ACEs expert, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, provided the keynote address. Both Governor Northam and First Lady Pamela Northam addressed the...