Today, in conjunction with Trauma Awareness month, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Pathways to Resilience initiative – a national effort to advance trauma-responsive policies and programs in states and communities across the country. Pathways to Resilience will raise awareness of the mental and physical impacts of adversity and trauma on all of us – through an equitable and evidence-informed lens.
The first of its kind, Pathways to Resilience will convene state and community leaders – together with national and local experts, clinicians, and researchers – to identify and discuss practical solutions for promoting healing and resilience. We will harness the power and potential of collaboration across the health, education, early childhood, social service, and justice sectors to achieve common goals. We believe that states and communities are in the best position to establish a culture of healing and resilience for our children and families.
Why Now?
Our collective experience with COVID-19 has helped normalize discussions that have historically been stigmatized, downplayed, and even denied in our families, schools, communities, and workplaces. As we approach the end of the third school year disrupted by the pandemic, more than 200,000 American children—most younger than 13 and from communities of color —have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19, with potentially devastating consequences. This shared adversity has created an opportunity for more candid conversations and for broader collaboration—a chance to listen to each other and to work together to foster the conditions that allow children, families, and communities to thrive.
What are the Components of the Initiative?
Our website, Pathways-US.org, will feature the most relevant and up-to-date resources for states and communities, and will promote the three main components of the initiative:
Pathways Learning Network
The Pathways to Resilience Learning Network will provide a monthly forum for state officials to discuss and debate cross-sector, evidence-informed, promising practices for building resilience from states and communities across the country.
State officials can register for the first Pathways Learning Network session to connect with other state leaders and hear from experts about important issues and strategies for addressing adversity and trauma. The session, Trauma-Responsive Approaches to Promoting Resilience Across Sectors will be held on June 7 at 12:00 p.m. PT / 3:00 p.m. ET.
The session will feature Dave Ellis, Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of Resilience; Melissa Merrick, PhD, CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America; and Ricky Robertson, MA, MEd, an expert in building systems of support in schools for students impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma.
Customizable Toolkits for States.
The ACE Resource Network will design and produce multi-media toolkits for health, education, and social services agencies related to strategies for preventing and addressing ACEs and trauma. The toolkits will be produced in English and Spanish.
State Policy Roundtable.
Pathways to Resilience will host a policy roundtable with leading experts to develop cross-sector trauma responsive policy and program considerations for state and federal officials. Findings from the Policy Roundtable will be synthesized and publicly disseminated for longer-term policy development and advocacy purposes.
Who Are We?
Pathways to Resilience is sponsored by Aurrera Health Group, a mission-driven, national health policy and strategic communications firm. From 2019 – 2022, Aurrera Health Group supported California’s ACEs Aware initiative on behalf of former Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. We are working in partnership with the ACE Resource Network. Our work is informed by the wisdom of a First Spouse Steering Committee chaired by Tracey Quillen Carney, Delaware First Spouse, and the Pathways to Resilience Expert Advisory Committee of nationally recognized leaders in the field of adversity and trauma.
Join the Movement
Sign up to receive Pathways to Resilience updates and information.
If you are a state policymaker, register for the Pathways to Resilience Learning Network.
Follow us on on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Contact info@Pathways-US.org to share information about your work, request a meeting to discuss how you can get involved, or to become a partner or funder.
We are excited to launch this important initiative and look forward to Charting the Path with you!