Best of the Web

NPR “What Shapes Health”

Through a unique and exciting collaboration of National Public Radio (NPR), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, we now have the knowledge and stories behind "what shapes health" for average Americans.  All too often, research has shown that childhood trauma plays a significant role in the lives of individuals from every race, culture, gender, and socioeconomic status.  While some groups have been found to be disproportionately impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the information and imperative to act is clear: “54 percent of Americans believe that being abused or neglected in childhood is an extremely important cause of health problems later in life.”  We encourage you to take the time to listen to this series of seven 5-9 minute stories; share this information with others; and begin a conversation about how we can empower ourselves, our families, and our communities to combat the impacts of childhood trauma and create a healthier and more resilient America.

url: 
http://www.npr.org/series/389312217/what-shapes-health

Tips for Modeling Trauma Informed Principles in the Training Environment

Liz Sharda, MSW, a trainer for the National Childhood Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) provides useful examples of how to integrate trauma informed principles in the training environment. in a new 13 minute podcast.  Liz's comments expand on ideas provided on this topic in a paper written by Multiplying Connections Director, Leslie Lieberman titled Walking the Walk:  Modeling Trauma Informed Practice in the Training Environment.

url: 
http://learn.nctsn.org/mod/page/view.php?id=8715

Child Homelessness: WHYY Radio Times Segment

Child homelessness is more of an issue than ever with a recent report by The National Center on Family Homelessness citing that 1 in 30 children in America were homeless during 2013, an 8% national increase from 2012.  While many reasons can be cited from the economic recession, to poverty, to a lack of available housing; it is important to recognize the role of trauma in this social problem.  During this episode of Radio Times with Marty Moss-Coane on WHYY-Philadelphia, three panelists describe the importance of moving from asking “what is wrong with you” to “what happened to you,” the fundamental component of Trauma Informed Care practice and The Sanctuary Model.  If providers and policies are able to “introduce dignity, choice, and respect” back into the lives of the individuals and families experiencing homelessness, it “opens up the possibilities for change and growth.”  We will be able to break the cycle of homelessness for children, help mothers and their families to heal from trauma, and grow together as members of a larger community.   

url: 
https://soundcloud.com/whyy-public-media/child-homelessness

Trauma Informed Care: Perspectives and Resources

JBS International, Inc. and the Georgetown University National Technical Assistance Center for Children’s Mental Health have created a new free web-based tool to support organizations, state and local decision-makers, administrators, providers, parents, and youth and family advocates to become more trauma informed. The tool includes video interviews on lessons learned, educational issue briefs, and key resources and links that are updated monthly to keep up with new developments in the field. The videos provide insights from providers, developers of evidence-based treatments, and administrations but also give a voice to children and families, who share their experiences. The goal of the tool is to help foster healing and build resilience for individuals and communities across the country. The tool is freely available at two locations:

http://trauma.jbsinternational.com/traumatool

http://gucchdtacenter.georgetown.edu/TraumaInformedCare.html

 

 

 

 

 

url: 
http://trauma.jbsinternational.com/traumatool

"Saving Brains, A Grand Challenge" Video

This incredible video is a perfect summary of what Multiplying Connections is all about!  Watch to learn the answers to a variety of questions.  What are ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)?  How does the brain of a child change depending on the level of stress to which they are exposed?  What ways can parents and society at large help?  "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” -Chinese proverb.  Help us create a city and society that supports parents, families and organizations to free themselves from trauma.

url: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw0TkwjjpZU

Compelling Arguments for Early Childhood Education

Two recent publications add to the literature strongly arguing that a focus on healthy  early childhood development is an imperative if we want to improve overall health and social outcomes and reduce poverty.  The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released an Issue Brief, Early Childhood Experiences Shape Health and Well-being Throughout Life that underscores the importance of high quality early childhood education and the need for home-based services to promote healthy early childhood development.  An editorial published in Science Magazine authored by Drs. Karlee Silver and Peter Singer of Grand Challenges in Canada calls for the United Nations to place a much sharper and intensive focus on early childhood development in its goals for sustainable develoment.  Click here to read it.

url: 
http://www.rwjf.org/en/research-publications/find-rwjf-research/2014/08/early-childhood-experiences-shape-health-and-well-being-througho.html

The Sutton Trust Publishes Important Study on Childhood Neglect

Baby Bonds: Parenting, Attachment and a Secure Base for Children, a report released by The Sutton Trust, discusses the importance of caregivers bonding with their children. The longitudinal study of 14,000 US children found that about 40 percent lacked secure attachments. Their analysis provides important insights into how these children impacted by neglect they experienced. The researchers also offer a number of recommendations for caregivers, behavioral health professionals and policy makers to support children in developing strong attachments. 

url: 
http://scholar.princeton.edu/smoullin/files/baby-bonds-final.pdf

Head Start, Trauma Smart Helps Children to Remain Calm

New York Times columnist David Bornstein recognizes the importance for trauma-informed care in head start programs. In his Fixes column, Teaching Children to Calm Themselves, he looks at the Head Start Trauma Smart program that currently serves over 3,000 children in Kansas and Missouri. 

url: 
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/first-learn-how-to-calm-down/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1&

10 Things a School-Age Child with Traumatic Grief Wants You to Know and How to Help

Dealing with the loss of a loved one can be particularly difficult for children. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has developed this comprehensive list of how children typically express their feelings about this loss along with how providers and caregivers can help. This short, clear tool is an excellent resource for those who wish to provide better trauma-informed care and to help children manage their traumatic grief. 

url: 
http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/10things_schoolage_ctg.pdf

A New Video on the Science of Neglect

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University has created another video in its excellent series on the impact of trauma and adversity on children.  This video focuses on the impact of neglect on child development.  Four types of neglect are described as well as strategies for ameliorating its effects.  Emphasis is placed on the importance of the "serve and return" response which can be provided by any caregiver.  A companion brief on the same topic is also available.

url: 
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/multimedia/videos/inbrief_series/inbrief_neglect/

Need Self-care? There's an App for That

Originally designed for health care providers treating military personnel, the App "Provider Resiliency" has some great tools for all providers who work with  people who have experienced trauma.  Through pyscheducation and self-assessments, Provider resilience gives providers tools to keep themselves productive and emotionally happy.  The APP features stress-busting and compassion satisfaction-building tools.  You can find Provider Resilience in the Google Play store for Android devices and at the App Store for the Iphone and Ipad.  Read more about Provider Resilience and find out how to down load it here.

 

url: 
https://t2health.org/apps/provider-resilience

Great new animated video on brain development from Alberta Family Wellness Initiative

The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative in Canada has produced, Brain Builders,  an excellent 4 minute animated video which presents the core story of brain development in an accessible and visually engaging format. Key concepts such as 'serve and return' and 'toxic stress' are illustrated in user friendly pictures and words.  Check it out at this link http://www.albertafamilywellness.org/resources/video/how-brains-are-built-core-story-brain-development

url: 
http://www.albertafamilywellness.org/resources/video/how-brains-are-built-core-story-brain-development

Becoming a Trauma Informed Elementary School

In this informative article, Jane Stevens, editor of the ACEs Too High Website, interviews Suzanne Savall, principal of Otis Orchards Elementary School in Spokane’s East Valley School District to find out how she and others in her community got started on their journey to create a trauma informed elementary school and how far they have come in five years. 

url: 
http://www.socialjusticesolutions.org/2013/09/24/q-suzanne-savall-principal-trauma-informed-elementary-school-spokane-wa/

Everything you Ever Wanted to Know about Breathing for Self-care

In this one-hour video,  Elaine Hammond, Adjunct Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, explains why breathing is such an important trauma-informed self-care strategy.  She demonstrates breathing techniques, explains the neurophysiology behind breathing and why it is an effective way to conteract the stress response.  She even discusses potential barriers to breathing retraining and how to address them.  The video includes a guided breathing meditation wihich you can use for yourself or to lead others in this exercise.  It runs from minute 29:38 to to minute 48:25. The University at Buffalo has also created a "Self-Care Starter Kit with many more resources.  It can be found at http://www.socialwork.buffalo.edu/students/self-care/.

url: 
http://mediastream.buffalo.edu/content/sw/school/field/self_care/index.htm

Short video clearly explains ACES and Brain Science behind Trauma

Have you ever wished you could watch a short  video that can help you better understand and explain the brain science behind trauma, adversity and violence and its relationships to the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACES)?  Check out this 11 minute video featuring Dr. Elena Quintana, Executive Director of the Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in Chicago.

url: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w3Qx_re85k&feature=player_embedded

Creating Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Systems: A Guide for Administrators

The Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project (CTISP), a part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), has published a new guide for administrators who work in the child welfare system. This guide aims to serve as a resource for those who wish to improve services for children and families and develop strategies for responding to their needs. This guide aims to support the process of change in the community child welfare systems by building an awareness of an understanding how trauma can affect children and families and develop practical implications for child welfare administrators are included in each chapter. This guide is part of larger Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice Toolkit that contains multiple resources designed to assist administrators in creating a trauma informed child welfare systems.

url: 
http://www.chadwickcenter.org/ctisp/images/CTISPTICWAdminGuide.pdf

Handbook on Sensitive Practice for Health Care Practitioners

This handbook was developed through a collaborative research project involving over 400 adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, mental health clinicians and health care professionals from 10 disciplines, from across Canada. This handbook outlines tools for clinical practice, including principles of Sensitive Practice, and offers guidelines to enhance survivors’ sense of safety during health care encounters.  

url: 
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ncfv-cnivf/pdfs/nfntsx-handbook_e.pdf

Famlies Thrive Learning Center

Check out Families Thrive, a unique partnership in  Contra Costa County, California which is actively working with diverse sectors and organizations to address the specific needs of children and families impacted by domestic violence.  The organizations's on-line Learning Center has a variety of excellent  video recordings, articles, and resources on a number of important topics that are relevant to trauma informed care including a 2 part presentation by trauma expert and epidemiologist Linda Chamberlain, PhD, titled "Trauma and the Potential for Healing." 

url: 
http://login.icohere.com/public/topics.cfm?cseq=557

On-line Journal on Secondary Trauma

The Center for Advance Studies in Child Welfare has just released its 2012 Issue of CW360.  The journal, available on-line, includes 24 articles on secondary traumatic stress (STS) which is the impact on workers from exposure to trauma and results from the empathic connections providers make with individual, families and communities affected by trauma.  This excellent resource provides a variety of perspectives on and solutions to STS including views expressed by foster parents and  supervisors, as well as strategies to prevent and address STS at the invididual and organizational level.  Author Joy Osofsky, PhD, identifies Reflective Supervsion as an especially important strategy to address STS. Check out the journal  here.

url: 
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cehd/news/2012/04/2012-edition-of-cw360-now-available.html

The ACES Too High Website

ACESTooHigh is the "go to"  website for information about the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Kudos to Jane Stevens, a journalist who maintains that site for her Inclusion of resources, training information, personal stories and more. ACESTooHigh is also a site that covers what towns, cities, states, social service agencies and organizations, schools, the juvenile justice, criminal justice, public health and medical communities are doing to reduce the burden of ACEs for the tens of millions of people in the United States who have high ACE scores. Links to those projects and programs are posted on the ACEs in Action page. There’s also an ACESTooHigh network for people who work in these communities to share best and worst practices, information about upcoming events, and to set up groups who want to collaborate on projects.

url: 
http://acestoohigh.com/

KidsLink Trauma Informed Resources Page

KidsLink, a trauma informed organization in Ontario Canada has a resources page on their website full of great resources on trauma informed topics.  Information is organized into a number of categories including ACES, homelessness, young children and special populations.  Check it out here...

url: 
http://kidslinkcares.com/

New NCTSN Fact Sheet on Secondary Traumatic Stress Suports Reflective Supervision

In a new fact sheet on secondary traumatic stress (STS), The National Childhood Traumatic Network (NCTSN) defines STS as the emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another. Its symptoms mimic those of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” According to the NCTSN the most important strategy for preventing the development of secondary traumatic stress is the triad of psychoeducation, skills training, and supervision.  In particular, NCTSN recommends Reflective Supervision as a model to address STS.

url: 
http://www.nctsn.org/products/secondary-traumatic-stress-fact-sheet-child-serving-professionals%20

David Brooks on "What Really Matters is How We Relate to One Another"

According to Political Columnist David Brooks, “what really matters is how we relate to one another”. The impacts of relationships and emotions on individual behavior are rarely included in political and economic commentary. Yet the ideas that our actions are based in emotion and that we operate as interconnected communities are the basis of David Brooks’ new book, The Social Animal. Brooks recently gave an interview on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered discussing the book and his impetus for writing it. In the interview Brooks describes how current neuro-science points to a view of human nature based not on rational beings operating independently, but rather on complicated and emotional people deeply impacted by social connections and relationships. Brooks argues that an incorrect view of human nature has led to unsuccessful strategies in economics and education.

David Brooks’ comments align with Multiplying Connections’ approach to how people work and learn. We believe that positive relationships are the fundamental building blocks for healthy brain development, the ability to learn, and relate to others, and that children benefit from educational and social service systems that operate out of an awareness of these principles. Our goal is to support systems that serve children and families in making changes in practice and policy to reflect what we now know from research about the importance of  of nurturing, caregiving relationships on children. Click on this link to listen to the interview with Brooks.

url: 
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/07/134329412/david-brooks-defines-the-new-social-animal

Recognizing and Addressing Trauma in Infants, Young Children, and their Families

The Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation has developed this free on-line 5 module tutorial which covers types of and impact of trauma experienced by young children, signs and symptoms, and resources for futher learning.

url: 
http://www.ecmhc.org/tutorials/trauma/index.html

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