The uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for families, educators and healthcare professionals as the beginning of another school year approaches.
These challenges have also highlighted the core focus of Franciscan Health’s Community Health Improvement Team: to address, prevent and heal from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), a prominent public health concern in our communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the need in our communities to provide ACEs-related education and awareness. Therefore, the Community Health Improvement Team created the “Childhood Trauma and Back-To-School Event Series,” a free, five-week virtual series that recognizes the impact of ACEs within our communities, especially as children return to school.
“At this moment, so many are searching for the best way to help children navigate a new school year under very different circumstances. Our hope is that providing access to this virtual series builds upon our efforts to improve the lives of children and families,” said Kate Hill-Johnson, administrative director of Community Health Improvement for Franciscan Health.
The series begins with a 48-hour virtual showing of two award-winning documentaries that address childhood trauma, adversity and health and social wellbeing: RESILIENCE and PAPER TIGERS. The showings begin at 4 a.m. on July 21 and will be available for 48 hours. Registration is required by 11 a.m. on July 20. Registered members will then be able to log in to Vimeo using their personalized viewing passcode to start the films at their convenience.
After the documentaries, the Community Health Improvement Team will host nine virtual webinars with our community and partners that address specific topics associated with childhood adversity. As mentioned, all virtual events are free, open to the public and accessible from any electronic device. Registration is required for all virtual events so we can see who joins each event and award a “Certificate of Attendance” to attendees.
The dates and topics of the virtual webinars are:
· Exploring ACEs, Part 1 – Types of Trauma Webinar: 10:30 a.m. – Noon, Thursday, July 23
· Exploring ACEs, Part 2 – Epigenetics Webinar: 11 a.m. – Noon, Tuesday, July 28
· Tips for Re-Entry in Schools for Educators Webinar: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., Thursday, July 30
· Tackling Tough Times Together as a Family Webinar: 11 a.m. – Noon, Tuesday, Aug. 4
· Strengthening Protective Factors for Family Health and Wellbeing Webinar: 3 – 4 p.m., Aug. 6
· Caring for Yourself, the Adult Caregiver: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 11
· Exploring ACEs, Part 3 – Community Healing Webinar: 3 – 4 p.m. EST, Wednesday, Aug. 12
· Examples of Trauma-Informed Schools in Indiana Webinar: 11 a.m. – Noon, Tuesday, Aug. 18
· Building Healthy Conflict Resolution in Kids Webinar: 10 a.m. – 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 20.
For more details and to register, click here: FranciscanHealth.org/ACES.
Franciscan Health would like to thank our partners that helped make this virtual series possible: Indiana Youth Institute; Indiana Department of Education; Indiana State Department of Health; Purdue University; Indiana School of Mental Health Initiative; School Community Partnerships, LLC; Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau; North Montgomery Schools; Henry W. Eggers Middle School and Butler University.
We encourage community members to join us for one or all of the events and to share this opportunity with others. Our social media team is promoting our event via our Facebook and Twitter pages as well (Facebook.com/myFranciscan and Twitter.com/myFranciscan).
