Michael Skinner posted:Thanks Cissy for the tag.
Hello Denise & all in this post, I recently presented here in Concord, NH for this event - BHI Learning Collaborative event on Trauma Informed Care on Wednesday, May 1st at the UNH School of Law in Room 282.
Please know, I have presented all across this state [and the US] since 1993 in efforts to raise awareness on the impact of trauma and abuse, later on the ACE's Study came along to help with that. Have presented in several of the universities, colleges and high schools here over the years. So there is a thirst for this knowledge, how to keep the flow going is key.
Have worked a lot over the years with the folks from the National Center for Trauma Informed Care in presenting training[s] on Trauma Informed Peer Support and Trauma Informed Communities/Practices, etc, in many states, including as far away as Hawaii.
More info posted here - http://www.mskinnermusic.com/home/
There are some great folks & organizations in NH doing some wonderful things, but we still have a long ways to go in changing the paradigm here, too many entrenched players still hold to the mantra of, 'what is wrong with you', the 'mental illness', shame, blame mindset.
Please know, I am not cynical, just pragmatic from too many years of seeing the same old, same old, despite some wonderful works from a lot of talented folks. That said, I'm not giving up, just rethinking how to approach this moving forward. I'm in Goffstown, right near Manchester...so if you would want to chat, brainstorm, need names to contact, etc, I would be more than welcome to share that info with you. The feedback and kudos I received after presenting at the above mentioned event in Concord, let me know there are folks out there looking to implement trauma informed care and practices across the state. So Felicity Bernard & Kelsi West at the Institute for Health Policy and Practice- https://www.citizenshealthinitiative.org/ would be a good place to start and more than happy to connect you with them.
It is encouraging to hear them talk on the NH newscasts, talks shows, news articles of students and the awareness of trauma in their lives, but it is the next steps to help them in the healing is VIP and breaking the cycle is sorely needed.
Take care, Michael Skinner mikeskinner@comcast.net
Hello Mr. Skinner,
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my post. I look forward to connecting with as many individuals that feel passionate about making it there mission to help educate, collaborate and counsel those about the negative impact that adverse experiences have on your youth not only in New Hampshire but throughout the country. I will be doing some further research and would love any and all information of how I can help in my communities as part of my mission to advocate for those who have had these traumatic events occur in their life.
My ultimate goal is to help implement a similar type of program like D.A.R.E. in schools throughout the districts and to help educate parents through interaction with law enforcement so that children are identified so that they receive intervention early on in their lives. In addition, I would like to see more support groups in NH in schools and in prisons to help those who are coping with these experiences that affected them in a negative way.
The more I learn and become knowledgeable about this the better I will be at helping to implement programs within schools, prisons and in various communities as a whole as well as advocating for those who are too young to advocate for them selves. In addition, we as counseling professionals need to work with legislators and advocate so that we can help with creating laws and providing funding for these types of programs.
For example, I did some research and discovered that there is a agency called Spark NH that was connected to helping initiate programs in NH according to the Union Leader in 2018. I have proved a link below relating to the article I am referring to. Senators Shaheen and Hassen attended and I would like to know what type of funding if any at all was received and if not what was the reason programs have not been implemented, if they agreed that this was very important to address. I am new to what is out there and everyday I learn more about what is happening out there in relation to ACE's in my surrounding communities.
https://www.unionleader.com/ne...55-528dd5953996.html
What I do know is that I would like to find an internship that helps me develop my skills further and understands what my mission is as well has the same goal as I do, which is to help provide prevention and intervention measures to help children and adults cope with what they have been through. Whether it is through education in schools, colleges or mandatory parental training for parents identified as a risk to their own child's well-being through the courts. We all need to realize the reasons why we cannot wait to address Adverse Childhood Experiences and the long term negative health affects associated with them.
Thank you for taking the time to provide this information to me and I look forward to connecting with you in the future.
~Denise DeMoria
Graduate Student at Southern New Hampshire University For L.C.M.H.C.