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How Can Technology Bring Agencies, Services, and Residents Together?

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The fourth and final Sierra Learning Community consisted of a two-part program focused on continued resilience building for families, agencies and communities by using technology to bring people together.  Part…

Growing Knowledge and Staying Connected During This Time of Social Distancing

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Like you and the rest of California, we at Strategies 2.0 are sheltering in place to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. We are suspending in-person training for the time being, but…

Using the Centrality of Relationships as a Protective Factor in Building Resilience: Infusing Early Childhood Mental Health Principles and Practices Across the Care Continuum for Children and Families

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On February 20, 2020, Strategies 2.0 Northern Region convened Part 3, of a four-part series on Early Childhood Mental Health, entitled: Using the Centrality of Relationships as a Protective Factor…

Sierra Learning Community Explores Housing Affordability

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Chris Martin from Housing California addresses participants Participants at the Jackson Hub The February 13, 2020 Sierra Learning Community focused on the topic of Housing Affordability and Accessibility in California. …

Just in Time for the Holidays! Sierra Learning Community Explores Best Practices in Self-Care

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Continuing with the theme of sharing best practices in Trauma Informed Care, the second Sierra Region Learning Community, held on November 20, 2019, focused upon self-care activities.  More than sixty…

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How Can Technology Bring Agencies, Services, and Residents Together?

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The fourth and final Sierra Learning Community consisted of a two-part program focused on continued resilience building for families, agencies and communities by using technology to bring people together.  Part I was held on May 13, 2020, and Part II on May 21, 2020.    

Part I of the Learning Community featured three speakers, with time for reflection and sharing of ideas to expand the use of technology.  We began by asking how folks have stayed connected with their colleagues during the pandemic.  Summary of ideas is shared below: 

  • Use the house party app, use games and icebreakers, have a dance off!
  • Drive by to say hello and stay connected.
  • Zoom library days, zoom yoga, zoom self-care and mindfulness Monday’s
  • Virtual weddings; One town is doing its high school graduation on the radio!
  • Make fun, collaborative photos, send inspirational messages, snail mail gifts in the mail for mental health month.

 Mei Wa Kwong, JD, Executive Director, Center for Connected Health Policy, shared information on the status of Tele-health programs and policies in California, and highlighted innovative uses for telehealth services.    

Participants were asked to share how they have innovated or improved the utilization of technology to support their community during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Creative and innovative suggestions were as follows: 

  • Using remote platforms, such as zoom, webex, and google classroom to host virtual Family Workshops, story times.
  • Record counseling sessions and mindfulness ideas on YouTube for youth to view.
  • Utilize a peer to peer support model in remote settings to minimize isolation.
  • Daily phone calls, have case managers text and call without having their phone numbers show up.
  • E-newsletter for clients, students, as a way to stay connected.
  • Virtual office hours where people can come in and obtain assistance.
  • Call people first to screen them before meeting.
  • Provide certificates for parents for “Being the Best In-home Teacher”
  • Don’t forget to use phone calls, texting, and Snail Mail! Send gifts and reminders.
  • Create Instagram and/or Facebook accounts for programs.
  • Host practice sessions to help people learn how to use remote platforms. 

Next, we heard from Patrick Kane, Central Sierra Connect Program Manager, Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency.  Patrick provided information on the role of Regional Consortium’s funded by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to close the Digital Divide and ensure that 98% of Californians are connected to high-speed Internet.    Patrick also shared information about the CalSpeed mobile application, available for free download on your mobile device.  You are then able to share information on the quality of mobile broadband service in your area with the CPUC.  

Participants were asked about strategies they have used to promote equity for constituents in accessing services during the Covid 19 pandemic: 

  • Larger providers, such as Comcast and ATT, have affordable options for low income customers.
  • School buses can be used as portable WiFi hotspots.
  • One agency keeps its office open for one user at a time to access computers and internet.
  • Share the CalSpeed App information widely in your community (flyer is attached).

Ian S. Costello, Program Manager, Data & Analytics, Corporation for Supportive Housing, shared information on the Frequent Users Systems Engagement (FUSE), which uses the Homeless Information System to address public health issues in the homeless population.  Key to the FUSE approach is data sharing.  Ian emphasized the importance of obtaining buy in at the beginning of any project to share data.  Then, make sure to understand how and what the law allows. 

Part II featured a presentation from Ann Banchoff, MSW, MPH, Director of Community Engagement, Our Voice: Citizen Science for Health Equity, a program that supports community members in collecting and using their own data to build healthier communities.  Prior to the event, all registrants had an opportunity to utilize the application and imagine its potential use in their community. 

Ann provided information about how the Discovery Tool has been used throughout the world to provide individuals with a voice in their community.  Attendees share some ideas for how they might use the tool, including features in the environment that would easy or hard for children play outside; features in the environment that make you feel safe; and, identifying spaces that promote mental health and well-being. 

Learn more about Our Voice and the Discovery Tool by viewing this 2 minute video:  Our Voice: Citizen Science for Health Equity

 

Growing Knowledge and Staying Connected During This Time of Social Distancing

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Like you and the rest of California, we at Strategies 2.0 are sheltering in place to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. We are suspending in-person training for the time being, but we are working on plans to provide some of our trainings in a “virtual classroom” via audio/video conferencing. We will be in touch with those who are currently registered for training, and we will post the opportunities on our web site. Stay tuyned for more on that.

 In the meantime, we invite you to use Strategies 2.0 as a resource for learning and connection for during these times of social distancing. Below you will find “bundles” of our resources pertaining to different topics, which you are invited to use for your self-directed learning and growth. 

Online Courses

TIC-Online Course: Based on our most requested in-person class, Trauma-Informed Care is a strength-based approach grounded in an understanding of the impact of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care emphasizes physical, psychological and emotional safety for both the families and individuals we care for as well as ourselves, as providers.  We need to be aware of the impact of trauma for those we serve as well as ourselves, so check out the modules on self-care and the trauma-informed workplace.

Family Strengthening Essentials: This course provides a brief history of case management and the elements of modern case management and focuses on building rapport, writing documentation, setting boundaries, and mandated reporting.

Foundations for Practice: An introduction to the Strengthening Families ™ approach and the Five Protective Factors, as well as the importance of cultural proficiency and trauma-informed care.

Family Resource Centers:

Vehicles For Change Series: FRCs: Incubators For Innovation:  In the first installment of the Vehicles for Change webinar series, participants will understand the unique characteristics of family resource centers (FRCs), the definition of the elements that distinguish FRCs from other service delivery platforms (through the lens of the Social Determinants of Health), and how to apply the FRC Practice Methods as a way to adopt a framework that promotes family and community well-being.

Vehicles For Change: Reciprocity As Participant Engagement: The second installment of our Vehicles for Change Webinar Series participants will understand the definition of reciprocity in the context of family resource center engagement, how to assess opportunities for families to contribute to the well-being of their families and neighborhoods and how to generate strategies to maximize participation.

Vehicles For Change: The FRC As A Learning Organization: In the fourth and final installment of the Vehicle for Change webinar series, participants will define the elements of a Learning Organizations, understand how learning and innovation are connected and Identify opportunities to establish a learning organization.

Community Schools: What Are They? And Where Do Family Resource Centers Fit: Review the basic principles behind the community schools approach and dig into the important role that family resource centers play as a lead partner in that work.

Knowledge To Action Brief- Family Resource Centers; Vehicles For Change: Though FRCs are as diverse as the people they serve, they share common characteristics as centrally located places in a neighborhood or community where families can access resources and services, participate in activities, and even have opportunities to be civically engaged and contribute to the health of their community.

Vehicles for Change Monographs: This includes what has influenced the development of FRCs and how
they have responded to the growing body of research and best practices while remaining anchored in a deep and rich history invested in the well-being of children, families, and communities.

Bay Area LC 6/26/18 (Building Advocacy into Direct Services): Our Learning Communities presenters will share strategies on how low-income individuals and families can achieve long-term financial stability. Research shows that financially secure individuals are better able to weather economic crisis, maintain employment and upgrade their job skills, provide for their children’s health and well-being, and invest in their communities. Join us to build a regional network advocating for the economic empowerment of our families.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

LGBTQ+ Inclusivity: This webinar empowers professionals to create an inclusive workspace for LGBTQ+ staff and clients. It helps professionals develop partnerships with LGBTQ+ Folks in their community and support the needs that the LGBTQ+ community has regarding disclosure, safe spaces, and more.

Culturally Proficient Professional (pdf): Significant health and well-being disparities exist among children and adults living in the United States. As such, there has been a strong emphasis on health care systems and social service agencies to focus on the importance of becoming organizationally and professionally culturally sensitive or aware. This has resulted in a variety of models and language designed to address cultural diversity in health promotion.

Equity and the Social Determinants of Health (pdf): Why do some individuals experience more positive health outcomes than others? The answer lies not only in genetics, personal choices, or luck, but rather a complex mix of factors within the circumstances of a person’s life. These factors, termed “social determinants of health (SDOH)” are defined as “conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks.

Self-Care (pdf): Self-care is an important set of intentions necessary to mitigate possible stress and challenges
experienced in the field of family strengthening. It is a sophisticated set of skills intended to help
manage emotions and provide better services.

Poverty in CA (pdf): Children who live in poverty are 3 times more likely to be abused and 7 times more likely to
be neglected than children in higher socioeconomic status families.

SoCal LC 10/3/19 (An Equitable Vision for Children & Families): An exploration of how to assess population measures of child and family well being. Presented by Efren Aguilar, GIS Unit Chief at UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families & Communities.

Sierra LC 2/7/19 (Promoting Resilience using a Trauma-Informed Approach: Partnerships with Behavioral Health Systems): Hear from Lori Chelius, partner in Origins Training, on trauma informed care and how we can envision positive behavioral outcomes for the families we serve.  Oscar Perez, founder of Tending The Fires, shared the importance creating culturally competent programs and services.  Take a tour of the Rural Information Hub with Matthew Bruflodt, a web based resource for information on evidence based behavioral health programs with a focus on rural communities.

Capital LC 6/20/19 (Trauma in the Current Anti-Immigrant climate): Community-based Organizations, services providers and community members are dealing with the impacts of heightened immigration enforcement activities and anti-immigrant rhetoric on the mental health and wellbeing of children in immigrant families in California. Together we can identify what more can be done to support children and immigrant families. Together, Learning Community participants will share with speakers promising programs and best practices to help mitigate the increased fear and anxiety among immigrant families.

Bay Area LC  4/17/19 (Trauma, Equity, & Brain Science: Flojuane Cofer): Hosted by Napa Valley College, Resilient Napa (a collaborative project of Cope Family Center), the Strategies 2.0 Bay Area Learning Community, and the Greater Bay Area Child Abuse Prevention Council are partnering to bring together experts in a series of free talks and a workshop that will build participants’ understanding of the impact of historical and systemic trauma on children, families and communities, raise individual and community awareness of the existence of structural racism and poverty, describe the link between adverse childhood and community experiences and negative outcomes, and propose solutions.

Bay Area LC 5/15/19 (Resistance, Resilience, and Relationships: the 3-Rs of Systems Change): Trauma is historical, structural, political, generational, interpersonal, and embodied. So then, must be our healing. This session will share a framework, approach, and key practices that acknowledge and address these multi-layered contexts and expressions, focusing on the necessity of systems change and transformation. Kanwarpal Dhaliwal Is one of the co-founders of RYSE and currently acts as the Associate Director.

Collaborative Child Abuse Prevention Planning:

Capital LC 10/31/18 (Building Community Resilience): This convening, titles Creating common approaches to promote community and family healing through resiliency, will guide participants in working toward developing a common understanding of the regional needs and issues. Additionally, a panel will be invited to discuss their experiences in working in the community to promote healing through resilience.

Capital LC 3/7/19 (Sustainability):  This session will review how participants utilized Tool 1 of the Building Community Resilience Toolkit and train them on the Tool 2, Understanding Community Priorities. The session will end with an interactive discussion from Monique Ramos, senior associate of California Strategies, on the upcoming opportunities in the new year and new administration.

Capital LC 6/24/19 (Prevention Summit Report): Participants will hear real-time accounts from counties grappling with the big issues and conditions that weigh on our communities, families, and children; learn approaches to planning and collaborating that will help bring their own efforts to the next level; and explore possibilities for deeper learning that will bring us closer to realizing the change we want to see.

Capital LC 12/10/19 (Responding to Community Needs): Targeted outcomes for the day include: better understanding how your organization has stayed relevant and responsive to community needs; help you assess your organization’s capacity and ability to meet the ongoing needs of our communities in the current environment; learn and share strategies to build community engagement and trust  to increase access/awareness of services in increasingly multicultural communities.

Bay Area LC 10/10/18 (Economic Impact of Child Abuse): During this session, Safe & Sound will discuss: the findings on the economic burden of child abuse to the Bay Area; how the cost is calculated; community risk factors that make children & families more vulnerable to abuse; protective factors that keep children safe & families strong; what can be done at the community level to enhance protective factors & mitigate risks factors for families; what you can do at our own community to advocate for policies that protect children and strengthen families.

Bay Area LC 10/23/19 (Prevention Planning in Bay Area Counties): The learning community will bring together the Bay Area community to discuss where they are in developing out their Prevention Plans. Hear real-time accounts from counties grappling with the big issues and conditions that weigh on our communities, families, and children. Learn approaches to planning and collaborating that will help bring their own efforts to the next level, while exploring possibilities for deeper learning that will bring us closer to realizing the change we want to see. Supporting work to build community engagement and support to meet the needs of vulnerable children and families. And creating a networking and sharing resource for counties working on prevention plans.

Sierra LC 2/13/20 (Building Family, Agency, and Community Resilience:  Rural Policies to Improve Housing Affordability and Accessibility): ​Targeted outcomes for the day include: share how is housing a factor in child abuse prevention; examine the policies that have contributed to creating the housing crisis in California; learn what is on the horizon on a state and federal level to address housing affordability; analyze factors in housing affordability and accessibility.  How do counties in the Sierra rate in terms of housing affordability and accessibility?; learn about innovative model(s) to improve housing affordability in a rural setting; explore what we can do as family strengthening professionals to address the barriers to creating affordable and accessible housing in our communities

Leadership Models For Improving Impact: This webinar explores various approaches to leadership and, more specifically, styles of leadership that can contribute to achieving the goals of reducing child abuse and neglect. It also has application to day-to-day decision-making and professional interactions both within and across organizations.

Developing Emerging Leaders: This webinar will prepare participants to cultivate emerging leaders. It will introduce a leadership framework that integrates individuals’ personal, interpersonal introduces the strengths-based service delivery model.

SoCal LC 12/5/19 (Implementing Effective Evidence-Informed Practices in Family Strengthening and Child Abuse Prevention Programs): Increase your understanding of evidence-based models for preventing child maltreatment; learn the difference between the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) and the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse; explore ways to use the Protective Factors Survey to assess family strengths and identify programs to enhance well being; engage with colleagues in an activity to enhance your ability to navigate and use the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) resources.

Sierra LC 6/14/18 (Bringing Us Together: Using the ACES Connection On-line Platform to Support Efficient Collaboration Across Sectors and Communities): Gail Kennedy from ACES Connection and Tracy Fauver from Resilient Yolo (and Executive Director of Yolo County CASA) describe how the ACES Connection on-line platform can be used to promote collaboration to build strong families and communities.  Take an on-line tour of the ACES Connection website, and think about how ACES Connection can be used to develop a virtual community hub or Family Resource Center.

Capital LC 6/12/18 (Creating the Change our Families Need Most: Strategizing for Region-Wide Impact): We will hear about and explore data on child and family well-being in the counties of our region and how those connect to what we know about “Adverse Community Environments” and community resilience. Strategies 2.0 Master Trainer Troy Nichols will share information and reflection these “other ACEs” and facilitate the generation of ideas for building community resilience. This will be our launching point to develop plans for concrete, shared action toward change in our region.

Family Engagement

Engaging Fathers In Practice: The webinar will introduce family support practitioners and agencies to best practices and strategies to engage fathers and men in support services. Participants will gain specific engagement strategies that can be used to increase positive and meaningful interactions with fathers, discuss bias and attitudes that exist towards fathers in support services, and review research that supports overall father involvement.

Parent And Community Engagement Dynamics: This webinar will help family support professionals gain additional insights into the dynamics associated with parent engagement in their communities. We will explore how parents and organizations working with parents can expand their capacity to advocate for children and families.

Implementing A Strengths-Based Approach To Practice: This introduces the strengths-based service delivery model. Participants will learn the benefits as well as the policies, practice methods, and strategies that identify and draw upon the strengths of families.

Webinar Series: Conversations To Help Navigate Parenting: Find out about the current research on, and best practices for, parent coaching. Learn parent coaching strategies that can be woven into everyday conversations with parents to foster greater self-awareness, to increase family well-being, and share new ways to think about parenting challenges.

SoCal LC 2/27/20 (Expanding the Prevention Culture: Father Engagement): Shawndi Johnson, MSW, program manager for Dads Matter, shared the critical importance of engaging fathers in the process of sharing services, family healing, and creating strong, healthy communities.

Direct Practice & Programs

Breaking Free – Surviving Addiction: This webinar provides statistical information around the epidemic of opioid addiction in the state of California and explores a toolkit available to support service providers who work with those affected by substance abuse and addiction.

Recovery And Reunification: The Family’s Process Of Healing And Hope: This webinar discusses the impact of alcohol and drug abuse on family life, describes the early recovery process, and why this is a critical transition period. It highlights successful, evidence-based programs/curriculum, and more.

SoCal LC 10/3/19 (Child Abuse Prevention in Los Angeles County): A portrait of 12 unique CAPCs in Los Angeles. Presented by Sara La Croix, MSW/MPA

SoCal LC 5/17/19 (Achieving Impact through Evaluation and Data for Family Strengthening Programs : Know Your Audience: Potential Clients, Program Participants): This convening featured presentations by Jolie Mason from Zodan Consulting who created an online data tool to help package data for consumers of services, as well as Lori Clark from the Social Policy Institute at SDSU who helped develop data collection for the AARP Livable Communities initiative.

SoCal LC 3/8/19 (Achieving Impact through Evaluation and Data for Family Strengthening Programs Know Your Audience: Staff and Volunteer): Amina Fields and Todd Sosna from Children’s Institute in Los Angeles shared expertise and experience with regional participants. Guidance includes how to use a Logic Model to create an evaluation plan; suggestions for reviewing data with staff as a way to reflect and identify opportunities for improvement; encouraging the generation of outcome reports with the date you have available; and reviewing data through the lens of decision making.

SoCal LC 11/30/18 (Achieving Impact through Evaluation and Data for Family Strengthening Programs. Know Your Audience: Local Civic Leaders/Policy Makers and Community/Agency Partners): Todd Sosna and Cheryl Wold presented during this session. Learning outcomes include strategies for preparing reports for policy makers and community leaders. Participants also reviewed a product using the human development matrix to examine well-being and access to opportunity.

Northern LC 5/8/19 (Trauma-Informed Educational Practices): Kelly Rizzi is Director of School & District Support for Shasta County Office of Education.  She is a dynamic presenter with expertise in Bruce Perry’s Neurosequentail Model and trauma informed approaches.  The presentation will focus on understanding the science of the developing mind and how it impacts behaviors and mindsets.  Learn how to implement simple strategies to shift your inner regulation as well as the young people in your life. Learn about the basics of Restorative Practices and resiliency building as additional tools for changing lives. Part two highlights restorative and resileincy building practices.These practices have proven to reduce behavioral referrals by half.

Northern LC 9/19/19 (Early Childhood Mental Health: Core Principles and Practices): Learn what is childhood mental health; definition, core principles and practices and the continuum of care spanning promotion, prevention, intervention, treatment, and policy; centrality of relationships as a core principle; ECMH within different systems of care; provider-Caregiver relationships; workforce development to support an ECMH framework; reflection questions and possible actions. Guest Speaker: Barbara Ivins, Clinical Director/Program Manager Early Intervention Services, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland.

Northern LC 11/7/19 (Early Childhood Mental Health: Thinking Developmentally about Risk and Protective Factors): Topics include: risk Factors and Protective Factors: Child; Parent/Caregiver, Environment, Culture; capacities for self-regulation and co-regulation; risk/resilience balance;  use of screening as surveillance, and as intervention; types of screeners and ways to use them; eligibility across the care continuum–who is eligible for what?; red flags for Mental Health difficulties in young children by age–what do we see?; and behavior as communication–what does it mean?  What to do with what you see. Guest Speaker: Barbara Ivins, Clinical Director/Program Manager Early Intervention Services, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland.

Northern LC 2/20/20 (Early Childhood Mental Health: Introducing and Applying a Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Young Children’s Behavior): Introducing the framework for understanding behavior in young children: development, individual differences, environment, culture, experience, unmet emotional need, trauma; practicing observation, conversation, mindful self-regulation, attunement; verbalizing what you seek, what you think, how you feel; when you feel outside of your scope of practice–when there is no place to refer; reflection questions and possible action. Guest Speaker: Barbara Ivins, Clinical Director/Program Manager Early Intervention Services, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland.

Protective Factors

Concrete Support In Times Of Need: A Protective Factor (pdf): Connecting parents to concrete supports in times of need (e.g. food, homelessness, healthcare, safety) is a known protective factor used to increase the probability of positive outcomes (CSSP, 2018). Family strengthening professionals can effectively support families going through challenging times by taking a trauma-informed approach when helping parents identify and find concrete supports.

Concrete Knowledge Of Parenting and Child Development: A Protective Factor (pdf): When parents have a strong understanding of how their children will grow and develop over time and are able to implement positive parenting practices to help support their child’s development, they are more equipped to respond effectively to their children’s needs.

Social Connections: A Protective Factor to Reduce Child Maltreatment (pdf): Healthy families are the
bedrock of strong, vibrant communities. The Center for Study of Social Policy (2014) asserts that all parents need positive social connections with people and institutions to effectively manage stress and protect against child maltreatment.

Social-Emotional Competence of Children: A Protective Factor (pdf): Supporting young children to develop social-emotional skills is found to have a profound effect on their health and development in early life and as adults. Social-emotional competence, which includes self regulation, executive functioning, emotional and impulse control, and social and communication skills, influences children’s cognitive and language development, academic achievement, and mental health (CSSP, n.d.).

Parental Resilience: A Protective Factor (pdf): Most of the time the joys of being a parent outweigh the frustrations. When the challenges of parenting accumulate and become overwhelming, parental stress can occur. According to the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), even though all parents experience stress, by increasing parental resilience, parents can effectively manage stressful situations and help ensure positive outcomes for their family.

Building Community Resilience

Utilizing Relationship Building Strategies To Improve Service Interactions: This professional training will introduce family support professionals to relationship-based outreach (RBO) and improve the client-provider communication. Participants will gain specific RBO strategies that can be used out in the field, when interacting with new families, residents and/community members.

Promoting Resilience Using A Two Generation Model: This webinar, is intended for family support professionals and systems leaders, will provide a compelling case for the merits of two-generation programs in building resiliency and preventing adverse childhood events, particularly for children and families experiencing toxic stress. Originally advanced by the federal Administration for Children & Families, and more recently by the Anne E. Casey Foundation and the Aspen Institute, as a solution to intergenerational poverty and adversity.

Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity And Building Resilience: Mind Matters (MM) curriculum combines ACEs science with the most current research-based recovery skills to help interrupt destructive thought patterns and harmful behaviors. By learning personal self-managed skills of restoration, people are given a way to take charge of their emotions and improve their states of mind, addressing their physical, relational, and mental health needs.

Growing Resilient Communities: This professional webinar will introduce family support professionals and others to the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and look more deeply into strategies community members can utilize to accelerate local ACEs initiatives.

Childhood Adversity & Resiliency: Learn how to describe childhood adversity using the new Childhood Adversity and Resilience data topic on Kidsdata.org. Also focus on how to frame your message most effectively and how to engage and mobilize your community.

Learning Communities (pdf): Learning communities typically involve an ongoing process where individuals or organizations work collaboratively to achieve improvement and outcomes through collective inquiry and action.

Building Community Resilience Toolkit, Volume 1 (pdf): The Building Community Resilience (BCR) Toolkit Series is part of a comprehensive continuum of education and professional development intended to help train, as well as orient, new and veteran frontline workers, supervisors, and administrators in the family and community strengthening field.

Building Community Resilience Toolkit, Volume 2 (pdf)

Building Community Resilience Toolkit, Volume 3 (pdf)

Building Community Resilience Toolkit, Volume 4 (pdf)

Sierra LC 6/14/18 (Bringing Us Together: Using the ACES Connection On-line Platform to Support Efficient Collaboration Across Sectors and Communities): Gail Kennedy from ACES Connection and Tracy Fauver from Resilient Yolo (and Executive Director of Yolo County CASA) describe how the ACES Connection on-line platform can be used to promote collaboration to build strong families and communities.  Take an on-line tour of the ACES Connection website, and think about how ACES Connection can be used to develop a virtual community hub or Family Resource Center.

Sierra LC 11/8/18 (Build Resilient Communities by Fostering Trust and Finding Champions.  Explore how innovative Child Abuse Prevention Month activities can promote resilience. Learn self-care strategies to stay motivated): Listen and learn about three state Child Abuse Prevention programs:  New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Northern Virginia.  Hear from Natalie Audage, MPH, Child Abuse Prevention Coordinator from Yolo County Children’s Alliance, about information and materials developed for parents and providers as a part of their on-going Child Abuse Prevention and Family Strengthening activities.

Sierra LC 2/7/19 (Promoting Resilience using a Trauma-Informed Approach, highlighting evidence-based behavioral health programs): Hear from Lori Chelius, partner in Origins Training, on trauma informed care and how we can envision positive behavioral outcomes for the families we serve.  Oscar Perez, founder of Tending The Fires, shared the importance creating culturally competent programs and services.  Take a tour of the Rural Information Hub with Matthew Bruflodt, a web based resource for information on evidence based behavioral health programs with a focus on rural communities.

Sierra LC 9/18/19 (Best Practices in Trauma Informed Care: Self-Care and Peer Programs that Support Agency and Community Resilience): Learn about key components of youth mentoring programs from Oscar Perez, Ph D. including four components of building successful relationships with youth:  respect, connection, growth and gratitude/honoring.  Then hear from Kathryn Eustis, Director of the Calaveras County Youth Mentoring about the roots, funding and key factors in sustaining a youth mentoring program.

North LC 11/6/18 (Resilience & Data): Angela Ponivas, Bureau Chief, CA State Office of Child Abuse Prevention will provide a keynote presentation related to the Families First legislation and moving the dial toward prevention. The event will include a panel of local presenters (Medocino, Shasta, Siskiyou counties) that will provide insights and strategies from their best practices and policy relevant to promoting resiliency, protective factors and prevention of trauma exposure within their organization and extending reach into the community.

Trauma Informed Care/ACEs

Trauma Informed Mindfulness, Movement, And Self-Care For Families & Providers: When we practice self-care, we are able to better serve those around us. Our guest speaker, Schuyler Bright, teaches self-care techniques for you and your clients in your offices, homes, or classrooms. Support greater self-awareness and increase family well-being by creating space for more atonement and empathy.

ACEs Connection: Healing Communities Through Connections: The professional webinar will introduce family support professionals to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study and deepen their understanding of ACEs science which shows how toxic stress in childhood influences health for a lifetime. They will learn how using an ACEs science lens allows them to reframe behavior from “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you”.

Leveraging ACEs Connection To Bring ACEs Science Into Your Community: This professional webinar is designed to expand family support professional’s knowledge of ACEs Connection as resource to bring the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to their families and communities. Special emphasis will be placed on exploring the suite of tools and resources available within ACEs Connection’s Growing Resilient Communities 2.0.

How Trauma Impacts Mental Health: This professional webinar will introduce community members and family support professionals to the power and purpose of understanding loss, grief, and trauma. Participants will gain a better understanding of community violence and how undergoing a traumatic event can impact one’s mental well-being.

Creating Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Learning Environments (101): This webinar includes evidenced-based approaches that reduce the harmful effects of exclusionary discipline practices (including racial, ethnic, gender, and high ACE score disparities) while building consistency and community in early childhood learning environments. Presented by Lori Chelius from Origins Training & Consulting and Regan Overholt, in partnership with Lead4Tomorrow/Family Hui and ACEs Connection Network.

Trauma-Informed Care: Caring For The Provider: Dr. Holly Magaña focuses on the scope and impact of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue faced by providers who work with at-risk families. She addresses individual and organizational strategies to identify and address secondary trauma, with the goal of making the work more enjoyable and effective.

Pair Of ACEs: Building Community Resilience (pdf): People with adverse childhood experiences often live in communities that are affected by widespread adversity. Significant health and well-being inequalities exist among the children and adults living in these adverse community environments.

Sierra LC 6/14/18 (Bringing Us Together: Using the ACES Connection On-line Platform to Support Efficient Collaboration Across Sectors and Communities): Gail Kennedy from ACES Connection and Tracy Fauver from Resilient Yolo (and Executive Director of Yolo County CASA) describe how the ACES Connection on-line platform can be used to promote collaboration to build strong families and communities.  Take an on-line tour of the ACES Connection website, and think about how ACES Connection can be used to develop a virtual community hub or Family Resource Center.

Sierra LC 9/27/18 (Learn How the Trauma Informed Systems Approach Can Promote Resilient Families, Agencies and Communities): Matthew Reddam, LMFT, from Trauma Transformed presents on the Trauma Informed Systems Approach, and how it can be utilized to foster resilience in the agencies, individuals and communities.  Learn how a trauma informed system is one that realizes, recognizes, responds and resists re-traumatizing the families we serve.

Sierra LC 2/7/19 (Promoting Resilience using a Trauma-Informed Approach, highlighting evidence-based behavioral health programs): Hear from Lori Chelius, partner in Origins Training, on trauma informed care and how we can envision positive behavioral outcomes for the families we serve.  Oscar Perez, founder of Tending The Fires, shared the importance creating culturally competent programs and services.  Take a tour of the Rural Information Hub with Matthew Bruflodt, a web based resource for information on evidence based behavioral health programs with a focus on rural communities.

Sierra LC 9/18/19 (Best Practices in Trauma Informed Care: Self-Care and Peer Programs that Support Agency and Community Resilience): Learn about key components of youth mentoring programs from Oscar Perez, Ph D. including four components of building successful relationships with youth:  respect, connection, growth and gratitude/honoring.  Then hear from Kathryn Eustis, Director of the Calaveras County Youth Mentoring about the roots, funding and key factors in sustaining a youth mentoring program.

Using the Centrality of Relationships as a Protective Factor in Building Resilience: Infusing Early Childhood Mental Health Principles and Practices Across the Care Continuum for Children and Families

By Learning Communities, Northern Learning Community

On February 20, 2020, Strategies 2.0 Northern Region convened Part 3, of a four-part series on Early Childhood Mental Health, entitled: Using the Centrality of Relationships as a Protective Factor in Building Resilience: Infusing Early Childhood Mental Health Principles and Practices Across the Care Continuum for Children and Families.  The hub location for this session was Lake County Office of Ed in Lakeport, with four counties joining remotely: Humboldt, Mendocino, Modoc, and Shasta, as well as online participants from across the region.  Barbara Ivins, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, Early Intervention Services, has been presenting each of the sessions.  Her expertise draws from research and best practice in the field and her wealth of experience brings each session to life with practical application from real-life and insightful group discussion. The focus of Part 3 was Introducing and Applying a Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Young Children’s Behavior.  The framework is based on the premise that “all behavior is communication and has meaning.”  Mental health and wellness is demonstrated through behaviors and the cause of behavior, even the same behavior, varies.  The Framework addresses 6 areas in which to address behavior: developmental stage, individual differences, the environment, culture, exposure to trauma or toxic stress, and unmet emotional needs.  A “challenging behaviors vignette” was discussed among participants to make application of the framework. The presentation also incorporated utilizing an equity lens in implementing the framework, and an equity handout was distributed on the Ten Diversity-Informed Tenets for Work with Infants, Children and Families developed by the Irving Harris Foundation.

The session also considered use of a “word-cloud” to implement common language within the northern region, as related to the mental health of young children and the family strengthening field.  In session one of the series, participants brainstormed words/concepts that contributed to optimal conversations with families across family strengthening service delivery. The word cloud included terms such as trust, resilience, encouragement, parents as partners, family empowerment, safe, parallel process, assess rather than assume, equity, etc.  These words were also discussed in session two from the perspective of the internal narrative that families have about their own life experiences. It was acknowledged that what we think (say to ourselves) about our experiences can become either a positive or negative resource to us.  The group reflected on a useful format to convey the word-cloud as a tangible outcome/product of this series.  The group also reflected on how the Framework could be used among colleagues, with suggestions for systems-wide staff training, as well as incorporating it within childcare settings and embedding it within service delivery. Reflective comments also pointed out that more attention is needed in the area of culture and that the framework is a useful tool in being pro-active rather than reactive. It was also mentioned that resources can sometimes be limited, and more written resources would be helpful when addressing challenging situations with children and families.   This website was noted as a valuable community resource for the region: http://www.partnershiphp.org/Community/Pages/Community-Resources.aspx

Sierra Learning Community Explores Housing Affordability

By Uncategorized

Chris Martin from Housing California addresses participants

Participants at the Jackson Hub

The February 13, 2020 Sierra Learning Community focused on the topic of Housing Affordability and Accessibility in California.  The issue is critical, as finding safe, affordable housing is becoming more difficult every day.  As family strengthening professionals, we see the stress on children, families, communities and our own staff as housing prices soar.

The Learning Community featured Christopher Martin, Housing Advocate from Housing California and Cheyenne Purrington, Executive Director of the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless and Principle of Threshold Consulting.

Chris shared key information about the genesis of the housing crisis in California.  This includes a decline over the last 50 years in the development of housing.  In 1956, California developed twice as many homes as in 2016!  He also explained how policies skewed support toward homeowners and away from renters.  Chris then explained the legislative landscape in the state, especially new resources to help communities grappling with homeless citizens.

Cheyenne provided concrete, innovative strategies they can try to help identify individuals and families that are at risk of homelessness, and then provide support to prevent the loss of housing.    Cheyenne sparked thinking on the part of the participants, and time was spent in discussion with peers to identify strategies that can be employed now to help support the development of housing and prevent homelessness.

Participants agreed that developing new housing is difficult.  But there were ideas for helping support families and communities.  Hosting educational forums for community members in order to explore the issue was one idea.  Educating families about their rights as renters was another.

Knowledge is power!

 

Just in Time for the Holidays! Sierra Learning Community Explores Best Practices in Self-Care

By Learning Communities, Sierra Learning Community

Continuing with the theme of sharing best practices in Trauma Informed Care, the second Sierra Region Learning Community, held on November 20, 2019, focused upon self-care activities.  More than sixty people from throughout the Sierra Region participated.  Special thanks to the three remote site hosts (Inyo, Mono and Sierra counties), as well our hosts at the hub site in Jackson, for supporting this event.

Participants heard from Doty Shepard, Director, Resilient Colorado.  Doty shared a wealth of resources for self-care that we can use to lift ourselves, and also can be incorporated into peer support programs.  Next, Schuyler Bright, C-IAYT, Registered Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapist, and Founder and Director of the Holistic Trauma Recovery Institute provided us with concrete ideas for self-care activities we can integrate into our work and home life.  The use of bubbles to learn how to better regulate our breathing was a highlight! Vanessa Compton, Peer Personal Services Coordinator from Amador County Behavioral Health, shared concepts from her Life Works self-empowerment workshop that can be applied to self-care for staff and program participants.

Vanessa also shared the secret to happiness…spoiler alert, try lowering your expectations!

Next, time was provided for networking to identify barriers to making self-care activities available to co-workers, community members and the individuals and families we serve.  Ideas were shared to overcome these obstacles, including integrating self-care into other activities that touch children and families such as Mommy and Me and pre-natal classes; making information available in community locations such as Post Offices and coffee shops; starting or ending staff meetings with a self-care activity; and using technology to promote self-care.

 

 

Using the Centrality of Relationships as a Protective Factor in Building Resilience: Infusing Early Childhood Mental Health Principles and Practices Across the Care Continuum for Children and Families

By Learning Communities, Northern Learning Community

On November 7th, the Northern Region Learning Community convened Part II of a 4-Part Series focused on Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH).  Six venues were available for participation.  The hub location in Eureka at Changing Tides Family Services, four remote locations in Ukiah, Lakeport, Alturas, and Redding, as well as online participation.  The four-part series is a collaboration between Strategies 2.0 and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland, Early Intervention Services.  Part II, presented by Barbara Ivins, zeroed in on “Thinking Developmentally About Risk and Protective Factors.”  The presentation addressed three key objectives: (1) to identify risk and protective factors, (2) to look at the use of screening as surveillance and intervention—identifying red flags for Mental Health difficulties in young children by age, and (3) practice using screening as an intervention.  Several screening tools were presented and discussed, such as the ASQ/SE, DECA, PSC-35, PHQ-9 or PHQ-2, Edinburgh, MCHAT, SWYC, PEARLS, CPP Symptom Screener, and the Benevolent Childhood Experiences.  Most of these screeners were familiar to participants.  The Benevolent Childhood Experiences Screen was unfamiliar, but of special interest because of its unique perspective on strengths.   Participants were asked to consider what screening is: a way to find out who needs a particular kind of help or services; a way to find out how many people in a population are impacted by a particular concern: a way to estimate how serious a problem might be; a way to triage and begin to help (intervention); or an opening to a conversation.  Participants also considered how screening is most frequently used in the work they do, and how we begin to tackle the challenge of screening without a place to make a referral.  This challenge generated stimulating discussion around developing inner resources and internal narrative related to qualities such as resilience, hope, compassion, positivity, and joy instead of relying only on referral to external resources for assistance.  Participants also reviewed a “Word Cloud” that LC participants created in session I, expressing key qualities that promote relationship building with families.  Consideration was given to how these words factor into a common language and could be used more intentionally within screening practices.

The session concluded with a reflection on screening and practices that are currently being used and/or could be promoted among Learning Community participants.  The Benevolent Childhood Experiences Screen was most frequently cited as a tool that could be added into current practice.  Participants indicated they were using most of the screeners that were presented and that it was important to maintain fidelity to the screening protocol.  Other tools used among participants were the MIM Assessment, ACEs, and CANS. The Word Cloud was frequently referenced to re-iterate the importance of being strength-based, build trust, remain non-judgmental and give encouragement.  When asked what screening is, any of the options in the above paragraph would be appropriate contingent on context. For instance, screening for numbers impacted by a particular concern can be very useful when seeking funding and resources or working toward sustainability.  Funding sources may also determine the use of screening tools.  However, most agreed that screening is a means to open conversation.

Session III of the Learning Community will focus on “Introducing and Applying a Comprehensive Framework for Understanding Young Children’s Behavior.”  Mark your calendar 2/20/2020; 1:00 – 4:00.   The hub will be in Lakeport (Lake County), other remote sites listed above.  Please join us!

Growing Resilient Fathers

By Learning Communities, Valley Learning Community

Our Valley Learning Community kicked off a new 4-part series on Resiliency, Protective Factors and Practice on October 30th with over 80 participants attending online and at sites in Stanislaus, Merced, Fresno and Tulare counties. For this initial convening (Growing Resilient Fathers), we invited some local practitioners who have a wealth of experience and perspective on father engagement. Our panel presenters, Lamar Henderson, Paul Prado and Justin Margolis shared the “why” behind their work, as well as practices to build resiliency in fathers. They also discussed their key learnings and strategies to help professionals understand the unique needs of fathers and ways to strengthen and support each father’s journey. After the presentation, our participants connected to explore what sparked their interest, and identified some strategies they plan to use to engage fathers and promote family strengthening. Based on their learning, participants also committed to try something new in their work with fathers, and share results with each other to begin to build resiliency practices across the Valley Region. If you’d like to check out more on Father Engagement, click the link below to view one of our webinars on YouTube – Engaging Fathers in Practice: https://youtu.be/ApNhuQf9R4s

Next up in our series is Resilience Practices for Children and Families with Trauma, presented by our guest speaker Jennifer Johnson. Jennifer is an LCSW and instructor with the Social Work Department at CSU Stanislaus. Jennifer joined us in May to help us understand the impact of trauma on the development of children and we’ve invited her back again to look at hands-on strategies to build resilience as a response to trauma. Jennifer is energetic and engaging, so you won’t want to miss this Learning Community on December 11th! Our live hub will be in Stockton, with remote sites in Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno and Merced. To see more details and register, go to https://strategiesca.asentialms.com/catalog/?type=ilt&sc=Valley1219

 

Using the Centrality of Relationships as a Protective Factor in Building Resilience: Infusing Early Childhood Mental Health Principles and Practices Across the Care Continuum for Children and Families

By Learning Communities, Northern Learning Community

On September 19th, the Northern Region Learning Community launched Part 1 of a 4-Part Series on Early Childhood Mental Health (ECMH), featuring Barbara Ivins, Clinical Director/Program Manager Early Intervention Services at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. Over 90 participants joined around the region at the Hub in Redding, at remote sites in Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Siskiyou counties or online. The series is a partnership between ECMH Consortium UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Strategies 2.0. Part 1 focused on ECMH Core Principles and Practices. The Zero to Three Infant Mental Health Task Force defines Early Childhood Mental Health as, “the capacity of children from birth to age five to experience, regulate and express emotions, form close and secure relationships, and explore the environment and learn. The importance of thoughts, feelings and expectations one develops about “self” as well as toward “others” was added as an enhancement to the definition. The theme of, “how we are with others is as important as what we do,” was woven throughout the presentation. This theme encompassed principles such as: assess rather than assume; ask, rather than act or tell; acknowledge rather than accept; use of one’s relationship rather than one’s self to shift interaction; and “holding hope.” Other key points addressed indicators of emotion/social well-being; parallel process; two-generation approaches; promotion, prevention and intervention comprising the care continuum; relational contributors to development; and that all behavior has meaning. The presentation was interspersed with time for networking, discussion, observations and reflections.

Observation and reflections included points from the presentation that would be valuable to share with colleagues, such as: the difference between empathy and sympathy; the difference between doing with and doing for; the lens of expectation; provider/parent dynamic; always keeping the child in mind; and taking our expectations out of the situation. As a result of the presentation, organizations expressed opportunities for collaboration, capacity building, empowering, educating, disseminating information to parents, broadening awareness across the region, working across disciplines and exploring common language and approaches, as well as considering the new recommendations coming from the State around ACEs screening in healthcare. The presentation concluded with reflection on words or phrases for possible consideration within a regional ECMH vision as follows: cultural humility, family empowerment, empathy, compassion, safe, encouragement, enriching, diverse, instilling hope, reaching out, empowered caregiving, trust-based, non-judgmental, parents are experts, support, building-blocks, trauma-responsive, and resilience.

Session 2: Thinking Developmentally About Risk and Protective Factors. Nov 7, 1:00 – 4:00

Hub: Eureka – Remote Locations: Lake, Mendocino, Shasta, Siskiyou, Online. Please join us!

 

Sierra Learning Community Convening Explores How Mentoring Programs Can Support Youth Resilience

By Learning Communities, Sierra Learning Community

At the September 18, 2019 Sierra Learning Community, more than 60 representatives from across the region came together to explore Best Practices in Trauma Informed Care: Developing Programs to Support Youth Resilience.  Speakers at the hub, located at the Amador County Child Abuse Prevention Center in Jackson, California,  included Oscar Perez, Ph D. from Tending the Fires, and Kathryn Eustis, from Calaveras County Youth Mentoring Program.

Dr. Perez shared his wisdom on how to develop rich and meaningful relationships with youth.  He also helped participants understand the importance of including youth voices in programs.  Ms. Eustis shared her experience in developing a Youth Mentoring program in a rural setting.  Key components included the importance of gauging the capacity of the community to host a program, and how finding a stable umbrella organization has enabled the program to continue for 17 years!

Whether at the hub, on-line at their computers, or at remote sites throughout the region, participants were able to work together to brainstorm ways to start a new or enhance existing youth mentoring programs.  For more information on this, or other Sierra Learning Communities, please contact Barbara DeGraaf, Sierra Learning Community Facilitator at [email protected]

Yuba County: Building a Structure for Sustained Action

By All

In January 2019, in partnership with the California Office of Child Abuse Prevention, the Department of Social Services, the County Welfare Directors Association, Strategies 2.0 co-hosted a Child Abuse Prevention Summit in San Diego. In our newsletter and on our website in coming months, we will be featuring the amazing work of some of the county teams who attended.

 

Yuba County is ready for results.

“Our county has ranked very low on health outcomes. This year we were 53rd out of 58 in California—pretty far down—on all health indicators,” laments Cathy LeBlanc, Executive Director at Camptonville Community Partnerships.

Ms. LeBlanc and her colleagues have recognized this challenge for decades and have built their capacity to collaborate and align their work to push for solutions, from the formation of the Yuba County Children’s Wellness and Child Abuse Prevention Council (YCCC) in the 90’s, through a shared effort to address the Social Determinants of Health with a Board of Supervisors initiated ad-hoc committee, to joining of forces to support young people through the Displaced Youth Multi-Disciplinary Team (a current work group of the YCCC).

Now a new milestone has been reached. On July 10th, the YCCC officially recognized the formation of a new Prevention Network, which will bring together stakeholders to focus action on preventing child abuse in the county.

Building on the lessons and successes of past collaboration, the shared will to meet the county’s challenges moved forward in earnest this past January, at the Child Abuse Prevention Summit in San Diego.

According to Elizabeth Corniel, Program Specialist at CWS, “The summit was very inspirational, with the various presentations and having the opportunity to hear how other counties are collaborating.” Along with inspiration, the Yuba delegation came away with a clear focus for action: developing a cross-sector Child Abuse Prevention Network that would align efforts and work toward a shared vision of prevention.

A core group committed to come together every two weeks to hammer out all of the structures that will be needed for a sustained and results-focused Network: mission, vision, guiding principles, decision-making rules.

Their efforts could easily have stalled out in May, when Karleen Jakowski, the initial project lead for the county, took a position elsewhere. But a clear mission and a shared drive to¸ in Cathy LeBlanc’s words, “get stuff done” kept the momentum going and produced the credible plan that the Yuba CW-CAPC sanctioned on July 10th.

The task of the newly formed Yuba Prevention Network, according its founding Agreements and Guidelines, will be to develop “an inclusive, voluntary association of individuals from the Yuba County community, with representation from government agencies, education agencies, community based organizations, businesses, parents, faith-based groups, and others interested in improving the quality of life within the community.”

Ms. Corniel explains, “By taking the time to create the Prevention Network Agreements and Guideline document, we will have established a structure that will allow the momentum from the summit to continue.” With that structure, and the mutual commitment these leaders fostered in creating it, Yuba County is poised to realize real and sustained change for its families and children.

Photo: Members of the Yuba County Children’s Wellness and Child Abuse Prevention Council.