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Each year, STAR hosts a Trauma-Informed Care Conference to help educate the next generation of leaders and build a strong network of Trauma-Informed professionals in the state of Georgia. The conference will be held on Saturday, October 3rd from 10:00am- 1:00pm EST and Sunday, October 4th , 2020 from 2:00pm-5:00pm EST conducted virtually via Zoom.

Title image: Jeny Bissell, Ho‘oikaika Partnership founder and Core Partner, gives a shaka at a Child Abuse Prevention Month mayor's proclamation and concert. A brochure from the Ho‘oikaika Partnership shows four people paddling a slender boat, their bodies silhouetted against an apricot-hued sky. The tagline: “When it comes to parenting, who’s in your canoe?” The image and the metaphor are intentional, says Karen Worthington, coordinator of the 60-member, cross-sector Ho‘oikaika Partnership...

ACEs Connection, we need your help ! We are performing a research study to better understand the relationship between positive childhood experiences (PCEs), ACEs, and health outcomes in adulthood. All we need is 5-10 minutes of your time and your honesty to complete the following anonymous survey. With your help we can find a better way to combat ACEs and to support the development of children into resilient adults. Just a little bit more about the survey: This survey is sponsored by the...

Sorry for the short notice, but I hope you can be a part of this webinar that will look to the protective factors that we can put into place for our young keiki during COVID-19. To register or for more information click on this link .

Transform Trauma with ACEs Sciences Film Festival & Follow-Up Discussions The following weekend watch parties and follow-up discussions are co-hosted by ACEs Connection, The Relentless School Nurse , and The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy & Practice (CTIPP) . We appreciated the filmmakers for making these films free to watch for our members and for the public programming of PBS. The films we’ll feature are as follows: Portraits of Professional Caregivers Whole People Part 1...

This is an excellent article that provides tips in how to take the necessary steps to practice self-care and most importantly to "be kind to yourself." This article is particularly geared to the individuals who find it difficult to relax (ouch!). During this time of COVID-19, it can't be overstated enough- we need to take time to relax and breathe. What do you do to relax and take care of yourself?

Can we give a "shout out" to our educators!!! My youngest has started her distance learning at a Honolulu middle school- and while it is not the most optimum way to learn her 8th grade teachers (particularly her ELA teacher) are bringing it!!! Her teachers have done things like dressed in costumes, provided engaging and introspective questions, introduced new and challenging concepts and most of all, made each and every one of her students feel like they are part of a connected and loved...

"I have toured the country for the past 10 years to talk to our young people. I’ve learned that the biggest threat to our humanity is not guns, mental illness or our government. It is that everyone is talking and no one is listening.” - Erahm Christopher, The Washington Post Checkout this link to learn more about the movie "Listen" and how you can view it. Powerful message on the lost art of conversation and how trauma responsive approaches includes listening and identifying the unmet need.

Aloha, This is a great article on parenting during COVID-19. It provides some great tips that can be found on many sites. However, I did want to focus in on one piece of advice- "Increase predictability in your child's environment by developing and maintaining reasonable routines." Two key principles in building wellness and resilience through trauma informed care are to develop "safety and connection" for the individual. There is more research that supports the 'Predicting Brain" model that...

Aloha, This is a great online resource that provides over 1500 links to educational activities that you can do at home with your keiki during COVID-19. I have clicked on several links and like that the materials (if needed) can be found around the home or outside and the use of open-ended questions. With the re-opening of our schools still in question, parents opting for 100% distance learning or what to do with the off-day from the "A/B" schedule- this resource can provide some great ideas...

By Ryan White, Center for Health Journalism, July 23, 2020 Harvard’s Jack Shonkoff, a luminary in the field of early childhood, has spent years showing that events in the earliest years of life have profound implications for how budding brains develop, and in turn, shape a child’s later potential at school and work. Now, Shonkoff says it’s time to connect the brain to the rest of the body. “The message now is to say that there is a revolution going on in molecular biology and genomics and in...

Telling the story of America’s babies is more important than ever. Last year, the inaugural State of Babies Yearbook: 2019 revealed that the state where a baby is born makes a big difference in their chance for a strong start in life. New data this year shows that even among states with high averages, significant disparities exist in the opportunities available to babies of color to thrive, as well as those in families with low-income, and in urban or rural areas. Now as our country faces an...