Growing knowledge and networks for professionals working with families

The third Sierra Learning Community in the four-part Building Resiliency Series focused on:  Promoting Resilience using a Trauma-Informed Approach, Emphasizing Partnerships with Behavioral Health Systems.  Together we explored successful approaches to support the behavioral health needs of children and families living in rural communities.  

 View the recording of the event by clicking here: 2.7.19 Sierra Learning Community 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Make sure to visit the Strategies2.0 YouTube Channel to access recordings of all the Strategies2.0 sponsored webinars and Learning Communities.  The channel holds a wealth of resources you can use for training purposes, or to catch up on the latest programs if you are unable to attend a Learning Community! 

Highlights and Resources 

The Learning Community program began with a presentation from Lori Chelius, partner in Origins Training on trauma informed care.  Lori helped us to begin the process to envision positive behavioral outcomes for the families and children we serve.  Lori recommended participants take a moment to view a video that ties into the visioning process:  Know Your Why.  

Next, Oscar Perez, founder of Tending The Fires, shared the importance of rituals in healing trauma, particularly intergenerational trauma.  Oscar emphasized the importance of creating culturally competent programs and services.    

Matthew Bruflodt provided participants with a tour of the Rural Information Hub website.  This website provides information on evidence based behavioral health programs with a focus on rural communities.  

Time was provided for participants to ponder two questions with their peers and report back to participants.  Highlights from the discussion are provided below. 

Question #1:  What are some key components of a trauma informed behavioral health system you want to see in your community?

• Train all staff in Trauma Informed Care, including bus drivers, school administrators, janitors, everyone who has contact with youth.
• Bring in the business approach for integrating Trauma Informed Care in systems, what is in it for me? How can integrating this approach make my work more effective?
• Present and package information in a way that is accessible to the community. Have youth and college students make communication material as a school project. 
• Bring awareness of our own biases and judgments.
• Reach out to tribal communities.
• Involve youth in identifying and developing programs in school- based clinics.
• Develop resources for new mothers that have been screened for post-partum depression.
• Develop a parenting curriculum to help build resilience in children.
• Teach communication skills during crisis intervention.
• Help kids dream more, minimize medications.

Question #2:  How can we engage non-traditional partners in our collaborations?  Any successful strategies to share?

• Sierra Wind Wellness and Recovery program is a model for peer to peer support. http://amador.networkofcare.or...OfNorthernCA_166_2_0
• Use events that involve all of the community as an opportunity to educate, example is Band Together Against Cancer. Provide time for community to mourn and celebrate together. 
• Consider all cultures, for example the agricultural community.
• Inyo County has had success involving Native American communities in their Triple P Parenting Program.
• Engage with the California Tribal TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) Partnership http://cttp.net/
• Incorporate Trauma Informed Care into youth sports programs. Programs such as: Play Like A Champion, https://www.playlikeachampion.org/trauma; Up 2 Us Coaching for a Change, https://www.up2us.org/
• Bring in speakers that share information about nature based rituals and connecting with varied populations.
• Restructure programs to integrate non-traditional healing methods. Include sweat lodge communities and yoga in programming.  

Next Steps for the Sierra Learning Community…Continue the Resiliency Series 

SAVE THE DATE:  Thursday, May 16, 2019:  Tools to Build Resilience in Families, Agencies, and Communities.   Explore evidence-based tools and interventions for addressing Behavioral Health and Domestic Violence issues in the Sierra Nevada Region. 

All Learning Communities can be attended on-line from your own computer; at remote sites throughout the region, where you may view the presentation and participate in discussions with your local colleagues;or in-person, at the hub in Jackson.