Monday, June 28th - 9:30 am
Thrive Ottawa County is a public awareness and educational project with the goals of improving our community’s overall understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) while supporting the use of trauma sensitive approaches and building resilience. We believe that by providing this information; creating opportunities to discuss and fully understand the ramifications of childhood trauma; and offering local resources, support, and evidence-based solutions, we will improve health outcomes in our community. We feel that by “speaking with one voice,” the message will be most impactful.
One of the core strategies of the Thrive Ottawa County Project is to train multiple “Community Champions” with the expectation that these Champions would help to further educate others in their spheres of influence about ACEs and resiliency. You are invited to become a Michigan ACE Community Champion (MACC). As a Community Champion, you will have the knowledge and tools needed to spread the message of ACEs from board rooms to living rooms!
The next Community Champion training will be held virtually on Monday, June 28th from 9:30am – 3:30pm. Jodi Spicer, a Master Trainer from the Michigan ACE Initiative will lead this training that will include both a deep dive into ACEs as well as the opportunity to discuss strategies for furthering the education of ACEs and resilience strategies in our community.
The goals of the training include opportunities to:
1. Model and practice the skills to articulate clearly:
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ACE research findings and implications,
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how ACEs impact brain development and function, and
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what community core protective systems capacity is, and how the development of community capacity can help reduce ACEs in children.
2. Understand the impact ACEs have on our own lives.
3. Gain awareness and learn techniques for responding to emotional responses of audiences with respect, empathy and in a non-judgmental way.
4. Develop approaches for creating safety necessary for trauma-sensitive learning environments.
5. Discuss strategies for further educating others in ACEs/Resiliency within your sphere of influence.
6. Ongoing peer and self-reflection on the boundaries of our own expertise and knowledge.