I'll be presenting a Keynote and workshop breakout at this incredible Children's Summit in Wyoming on June 12th and 13th! The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study research is perhaps the most important research ever. I am so honored to be among an amazing group of speakers. If every school, police department, social services org, judges, -- truthfully, EVERYONE would get trained in this research and become ACE-aware; Trauma-Informed; and Resilience-Driven, our world would be more...

That's how Dr. Kent Hoffman, Co-Originator of Circle of Security International began his comments about this incredible new resource for parents! See his full statement below. A short six years ago, ChildWise Institute was founded by Intermountain , a nationally-recognized organization specializing in helping and healing children from emotional and mental health disorders. Intermountain are also experts in helping families of distressed children create a nurturing environment of stability...

Coming from a 25-year background in the world of technology and venture capital, I still keep my eye on what new technologies, companies, and people are being funded. I saw this today on TechCrunch... a fascinating trauma-informed approach! While this product is in its infancy and limited to a very small area of San Francisco for now, the implications are exciting! We'll have to see what the results are over time, how it impacts the lives of those that have mental health issues in that area...

According to the 2010 U.S. Census , Montana ranks 5th in the nation for the percentage of population living in a rural area (44.1%), eclipsed only by Mississippi, West Virginia, Vermont, and Maine. And as you may know, Montana is the 4th largest state in the nation! There are so many great things about being such a rural state — the charm of small towns, the beauty of farms and ranches, the wide-open spaces, our majestic mountains, rivers, streams, and creeks; and of course, let’s not forget...

"These types of demographics and statistics are unacceptable." That's what Senator Windy Boy, sponsor of Montana Legislative House Bill 118 , said in regards to suicide rates in Montana. “We’re ranked among the highest in suicide nationwide,” said Windy Boy. “Indian Country is ranked the highest in Montana." He continued, "This is the first step in reducing that,” adding that he wants to thank the governor and the Legislature for their support in “making sure this was a priority in this...

Rep. Kimberly Dudik, D-Missoula, discussed a package of criminal justice reform bills that Gov. Steve Bullock signed into law yesterday. (Photo: Thom Bridge) ______________________________ Recently, ChildWise Institute had worked hard with bi-partisan legislative leaders on a Bill to promote a pilot project based on the science of ACEs, toxic stress, and resilience . Unfortunately, it was tabled (read: failed). ChildWise has been working with legislators for 6 years now (3 legislative...

ChildWise Institute is really excited to announce Jim Sporleder as our featured expert at our May conference! You all know Jim as the former principal of Lincoln High School, which the documentary film, Paper Tiger's, is all about. ChildWise works closely with Jim, and he will be presenting and teaching his new guidebook, The Trauma-Informed School: A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide for Administrators and School Personnel . Unlike a typical ChildWise educational event, conference or...

Intermountain (the founding organization of ChildWise Institute that started the movement, Elevate Montana ) was honored to be a source for a TIME cover story this week: "Anxiety, Depression and the Modern Adolescent." From the article: "Daniel Champer, the director of school-based services for Intermountain in Helena, Mont., says the one word he'd use to describe the kids in his state is overexposed. Montana's kids may be in a big, sparsely populated state, but they are not isolated...

The Bitterroot Cares For Kids Network is the "backbone organization" of the newly established Elevate Montana Bitterroot Affiliate , and they are on the run! The Bitterroot Cares for Kids Network is starting support programming as a follow-up to their August conference on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) “ACEs in the Bitterroot.” The conference was on identifying, preventing and alleviating the consequences of childhood abuse and neglect. The first support programming is a book-club type...

Childhood adversity can activate the human stress response system, which is primarily made up of the hormones/chemicals cortisol and adrenaline. In the developing brain of a child, prolonged activation of the stress response system can cause these chemicals to actually become toxic. Think of that – a child’s brain being bathed in toxic chemicals due to abuse, neglect, or chaotic household dysfunction. It’s called toxic stress. It’s real, not imagined, and it’s physiological, potentially...

To our collaborators, partners and cheerleaders --- It has been an incredible year! I truly believe with people like you and your teams, the future for our nation's children and families looks brighter than ever! Yes, it’s a very long road, and hard, hard work. But we cannot allow the enormity of what needs to be done to distract us from doing it. We cannot allow naysayers to discourage us. We cannot allow those people with closed minds or resistant to change to devalue our work.

ChildWise Institute has been advancing awareness and knowledge of the ACE Study for almost 4 years now.   Through us, Montana became the 4th state In the nation to have an ACE Master Trainer Program. We have 21 Master Trainers all across the...

Four ACEs Is Not A Winning Hand! Sure, you can sit at a poker table and get pretty excited if you’re holding 4 aces. You’d probably bet a lot of money on what you think is a winning hand. If you did win, you’d be telling everyone you...

A recent report called  Achieving The American Dream , released by The Burghard Group,  Montana ranks as the #1 state  in which to live the “American Dream’. To this, I say, Really? If Montana is the #1 state in which...