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Michael J. Menard’s fascinating book recounts how fourteen children faced uncommon challenges. Yet most of them found the way to overcome their struggles and thrive.

Stay with your mission. I first learned about the impact and prevalence of trauma and the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs) in 2014 while working locally for the police to reduce drug-related, violent crime, and recidivism. This new knowledge influenced me so greatly as a mother and grandmother who was often witnessing children who were growing up in hard places through no fault of their own, that it changed my entire career focus. I now saw I had tools as “one lady” to help...

The terms stress and trauma are similar and sometimes used interchangeably. However, stress responses are often beneficial while trauma responses obstruct our growth. Stressors build resilience Most stressful experiences in life make us stronger. In fact, we can only grow when meeting resistance or stress. New or challenging events in our lives, such as job loss, exams, deadlines, finances, or divorce, often make us stronger. Challenges arise and, while painful, we meet the demands. We find...

Music & Thoughts To Share - Walk With Me by Michael Skinner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5WMypXDn8 “Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.” - Martin Luther. “The role of the artist is to transmit to humanity the deepest experience of reality. Art is remembrance. It is love.” - Kathleen Mundy “Always hold firmly to the thought that each one of us can do something to bring some portion of misery to an end.” Author unknown.

The Journal of the American Medical Association has reported that the national economic burden of ACE-related adult health conditions was $14.1 trillion annually ($183 billion in direct medical spending and $13.9 trillion in lost healthy life-years), or $88, 000 per affected adult annually and $2.4 million over their lifetimes. and The most important, and frustratingly, the least discussed takeaway from The ACE Study is that many aces could be prevented with an entirely new kind of parenting...

The rigid pursuit of perfection poses a high risk to health and performance. A kinder, more flexible approach to pursuing high standards leads to better health and performance. Perfectionism, which is motivated by fear and self-doubt, is often rooted in adverse childhood experiences.

Finance expert, CEO of Credit Builders Alliance (CBA), and Mindful Management podcast guest Dara Duguay talks with Shenandoah Chefalo about financial trauma. What is it? How does it affect individuals and communities? How is the CBA advocating for financial equity? They cover all this and share where you can go to find help, with a special resource for youth in the foster care system. What is the Credit Builders Alliance? Dara Duguay is the CEO of Credit Builders Alliance (CBA), a national...

I was excited in 2008 about my introduction to the world of childhood acquired trauma and the Adverse Childhood Experience Study. Then I realized that the incredible information made available to us through the ACE Study was not being effectively utilized. The need was great, but not available resources. My background was that of an ACE Victim when I started. Through long study and deep thinking, I began to see a pathway for healing. In the past few years, the phrase "Emotion has no...

Join us on December 5, 2024 from 2-3 p.m. For nearly 25 years, Risking Connection has been at the forefront of the trauma-informed care movement. Over the past decade, the Risking Connection foundational trauma training has evolved into the Risking Connection Change Model , a multi-stage intervention that supports trauma-informed, organizational culture change. In recent years, our hearts and minds have grown to embrace a more socially just view of the world. Now, we are pleased to announce...

Hi Folks, Honored to be performing at the Surviving Sexual Abuse Conference, Saturday, Nov 2 - 11am -2pm. All are welcome and it's free!! Codman Square Health Center's Great Hall, 6 Norfolk St. Dorchecster, MA. Excited that my daughter Michelle will be performing with me. Hope to see you there. Finding Peace Without You by Michael Skinner & Michelle Skinner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bj3ouoqppw We may close out with this song - Stand by Me performance by Michelle Skinner &...

Do you have a plan in place to manage your thoughts and emotions next week? Here are some practices that are helping me to take a “resiliency pause”: