Telford & Wrekin Council’s Post

📣 Please share this event with the families in your network. This event is free, with childcare and refreshments provided. Addressing mental health in the African American community is more important than ever. Join Dr. Russaw and the Delta and Antioch First 5 Centers for an interactive discussion designed to help parents and caregivers recognize silent triggers in the home that can impact overall well-being. This event is specially relevant for those with children aged 0-5 years. What you’ll learn: - How to identify and manage stressors - Techniques to teach children self-regulation - Strategies to reduce the negative effects of over-stimulation 📅 September 6, 2024 @ 12:00 PM 📍 Delta First 5 Center, 760 First St., Brentwood Reserve your spot: https://buff.ly/3z342Ch 📅 September 13, 2024 @ 3:00 PM 📍 Antioch First 5 Center, 300 H. Street, Suite F, Antioch Reserve your spot: https://buff.ly/3yP5yIl #MentalHealth #CommunitySupport #FamilyWellbeing

Last week I had the opportunity to teach my fellow Department of Child Welfare colleagues something I'm extremely passionate about as, like, a hobby - the Multigenerational Epigentic Consequences of Trauma. Or, in more accessible terms, how Trauma changes our DNA for 3 generations. And boy was it good for my soul. Our L&D team set up bi-monthly Lunch and Learn sessions, where we take the lunch hour to teach each other something, and I think I was the second person to sign up. We got to have a casual, candid conversation about how trauma hotwires our DNA to make our bodies work against us, instead of with us - for example, growing up low income makes you more likely to have osteoporosis in adulthood. Can you imagine what growing up as a black kid surrounded by systemic racism does to you? Did to your parents and grandparents? In those moments during the week when my mind wanders, I keep flashing back to the question asked by one of our leaders who directs how state caseworkers engage with our kids. "This is all incredibly informative - and depressing. What do we do with this on the individual level while we work on dismantling systems of oppression that create this kind of widespread trauma?" To quote the modern American philosopher GI Joe, "Knowing is half the battle." And to quote my therapist, sometimes the work will always be the work. Just knowing that a kid is carrying around their parents and their grandparents trauma in their bones is enough to cut that kid a little extra slack, offer them a little more understanding, and help them understand that they're not broken and they're not alone. Working on the software team, I don't get to interact with the families we serve, and most of the time that's okay. But knowing that I can still impact them for the better by teaching my peers some science is the reason I got into this work, and I'm grateful I got the chance recently. If you're interested and want to see sources, you can find my slides here: https://lnkd.in/gp2ESpxQ

🌟 Embracing Trauma-Informed Care: Theory with Heart 🌟 In the world of child welfare, every child's journey is unique, shaped by experiences both seen and unseen. It's about recognising the weight of trauma, its impact on children's fragile hearts and minds. At the core of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) theory lies a deep empathy—a recognition of the diverse effects trauma has on children's behaviour and mental health. But theory alone cannot heal the wounds. It's about understanding with compassion, walking alongside children and caregivers with hearts open and ready to listen. Through shared language and the gentle guidance of strategies like Trauma Systems Therapy, we extend a hand of empathy, ensuring every interaction is infused with understanding and support. Yet, our journey doesn't end there. It's about building a community—a network of hearts united in purpose. By engaging professionals and community members alike, we create a tapestry of support, weaving together resources and care to shield children from the storm of trauma. But we must also look after our staff teams, the unsung heroes on the front lines of healing. With tenderness and care, we offer them the tools and support they need to navigate their own emotions, allowing them to provide the nurturing care every child deserves through trauma informed practice. And as we navigate the complexities of child welfare, we remember the power of policy—the heartbeat of systemic change. Through policy implementation of trauma-informed practices, we turn empathy into action, ensuring that our commitment to healing reaches every corner of our society. #TraumaInformedCare #TheoryWithHeart #ChildWelfare #Athenacaregroup #TraumaInformedPratitioners #BuildingBrighterFutures

We’re thrilled that the government has renewed its commitment to the Start for Life programme, ensuring vital support for families during the crucial first 1,001 days of a child’s life. ✨ Highlights: - £69 million will fund Family Hubs next year. - The Start for Life program will continue with £57 million allocated by the Department of Health and Social Care. - A new milestone: 75% of 5-year-olds achieving a good level of development by 2028 in Early Years assessments. This renewed focus aligns with our mission at DorPIP to nurture strong parent-infant relationships, support perinatal mental health, and promote accessible, integrated care for families. Sir Keir Starmer made it clear that one of his top six priorities is ensuring "the best start in life for every child." This means better maternity, baby, and family support services—and we’re ready to lead the way in Dorset with our 3-point plan. Read it here : https://lnkd.in/dVjGbnG7 #First1001Days #StartForLife #InfantMentalHealth #FamilyHubs #DorPIPLeadership

To better support parents and caregivers, the U.S. Surgeon General calls for stronger family support systems, access to mental health resources, and policies that ease caregiving challenges. By fostering community and advocating for family-friendly policies, we can help parents and caregivers manage stress and protect the well-being of the youth they care for. Read more in our recent blog. #ThePartnershipNH #Parenting #Caregiving #Stress #Prevention #USSurgeonGeneral

Funding Opportunity

Infant and early childhood #mentalhealth starts at the very beginning – before babies even utter their first words. We must prioritize prevention and treatment to ensure the healthy social and emotional development of infants and toddlers from the start. When you think #mentalhealth, don’t forget to #thinkbabies! https://lnkd.in/gXDYafKi ZERO TO THREE

Sometimes a #traumaresponse can look like #ADHDsymptoms or other #learningdisability symptoms. In order to best help a #child, it is important to really understand their history and take note of when things are hardest for them. Sometimes it is a #learningdifference, sometimes it is #childhoodtrauma, and sometimes it is both. Luckily trauma informed parenting solutions help heal trauma and can also benefit #ADHDkids. For more on #parenting, follow Jen K. #traumainformed #parentingsolutions #traumahealing

Get in on the last few online seminars hosted by McLean Hospital - FREE! Excellent resource for family and caregivers and an instrumental tool for mental health providers looking to more deeply understand how to be effective with both consumer and family!!! #mentalhealthmatters #caregivertool

📣📣ONLY 5 SPOTS LEFT📣📣 The "Caregiver Webinar Series for Feeding Support" consists of three sessions focused on understanding feeding issues in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Like our previous webinar, these sessions are interwoven, therefore, we strongly suggest that you attend all three webinars. During the sessions, we will cover 1) Understanding Feeding and its subcomponents 2) Common Feeding Challenges and 3) Intervention paths and strategies. Each session has 40 minutes with key evidence-based information, followed by a 20-minute Q&A period. These webinars will take place on Wednesdays at 12 pm, on February 19th, 26th, and March 5th. Additionally, participants can schedule one 30-minute individual session with an Occupational Therapist to address specific questions and receive support, available from the start of the webinars until two weeks after the final session. Don't miss your chance to sign up! https://lnkd.in/eafG_v9Z The fee for the 3 webinar series and the 30 minutes individual consultation is 150$. Upon registration and payment, you will receive all information needed to connect to the webinar.