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Addressing the impacts of childhood trauma

Several Mission groups have joined forces to create a day of learning on Oct. 20
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Mission’s School District, Child and Youth Committee, and Child and Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Local Action Team have joined forces to create a day of learning and action to address the impacts of childhood trauma.

The organizers are bringing in two community facilitators from the U.S. on Oct 20 to help develop a community-wide approach to this critical public health issue.

Teri Barila and Teresa Posokony were instrumental in changing the way systems in Washington State respond to the impacts of “Adverse Childhood Experiences” (ACES). Their efforts are featured in the documentaries Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope as well as Paper Tigers, a film about a high school that adopted a trauma-informed practice and the success it fostered in the youth there.

The two facilitators will spend the day with teachers, social service providers, recreation leaders, educational assistants, parents, and many other stakeholders from Mission and the Fraser Valley.

The event is organized by Mission’s Child and Youth Committee, which is a collaborative group of many agencies and individuals involved with helping Mission’s Children, Youth and families.

“This day is for anyone in our community who wants to better understand some of the troubling behaviors we see in our children and youth, and learn how to be part of making a positive change. Besides the keynote speakers, we are offering a wide variety of workshops so that people can learn about specific areas that interest them. We’re even offering limited free childcare and admission for parents and foster parents to attend the morning portion. We want to get everyone who cares about our children, youth and families in the same space, learning and planning change together,” said Katy Brookes, one of the event’s organizers.

In the last two decades, medical and other caregiving professions have become increasingly aware of the link between our childhood experiences and a host of mental and physical health problems in later life. A major research project called the “ACES” study looked at adverse childhood experiences in 17,000 mostly middle class people. The research has shown that the higher the number of negative childhood experiences such as mental, sexual and physical abuse, exposure to violence, and loss of family members, the higher the risk of a host of later health issues including substance misuse, depression, cancer, and heart disease.

This event is part of continued efforts taking place in Mission to address trauma and build resilience, which has put Mission on the map as a leader in community response.

“The impact of trauma on children, youth and families directly impacts the health and vitality of a community. The more a community adopts a no child left behind lens, the more we take ownership for our communities moving to resilience rather than eroding under modern social and health pressures. We live in a time when one of dominant paradigm’s of individualism and competition are breaking families and communities apart – it is only through education, relationship and understanding between interdisciplinary partners and community that we can move forward. Mission representatives are honoured to present at the upcoming ACES Summit in November in Vancouver and a variety of community meetings around the lower mainland, demonstrating collaborative leadership in action,” said Kirsten Hargreaves, the District of Mission’s manager of social development.

The event takes place at Hatzic Middle school on Oct. 20. Registration and more information are available at PT2017.eventbrite.ca.