The first Pathways to Resilience Learning Network session for state leaders was held on Tuesday, June 7. 

CLICK HERE for more key themes and actionable insights from the discussion.

Attendees learned about the Pathways to Resilience initiative and heard from state and national experts on the importance of developing trauma-responsive policies and programs across sectors. 

Open to all state government employees, the cross-sector Learning Network will provide a forum for information sharing, highlighting best practices and exploring different approaches to preventing and addressing trauma. The monthly sessions will feature state leaders and national experts sharing concrete, evidence-informed, and actionable strategies for states.

Meet the Speakers:

Dave Ellis, Former Executive Director, New Jersey Office of Resilience

Dave Ellis is the first Executive Director for the Office of Resilience within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. In this role, Ellis shares his expertise with the state and coordinates statewide efforts to prevent, protect against, and heal from the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Ellis is a national leader in providing trainings and facilitating conversations regarding toxic stress in the lives of young children and the lasting impacts of ACEs and generational trauma. He has worked with both families and organizations to prevent ACEs and advance research and survey efforts. His prior experience in several Minnesota government initiatives also included facilitating community dialogues and public-private partnerships to promote wellbeing across Minneapolis. Most recently, he worked as a lead trainer and facilitator on ACEs with the New Jersey Education Association.

 

Melissa Merrick, PhD, President and CEO, Prevent Child Abuse America

Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, is President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America), the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. She has more than 20 years of clinical, research, and leadership experience related to the etiology, course, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Previously, Dr. Merrick was a senior epidemiologist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta. She is recognized as one of the country’s foremost experts on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): in partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Abuse and Neglect, she served for 8 years as the lead scientist for the ACEs study at CDC and is the lead author of CDC’s Vital Signs: ACEs, the most nationally representative report
on the topic.

Ricky Robertson, MA, MEd., Educator, Author, and Consultant

Ricky Robertson is an educator, author, and consultant who has worked with alternative and traditional schools, serving students from grades preK-12 within urban, suburban, and semi-rural communities. He provides coaching, consultation, and multi-day professional development workshops to build systems of support for students impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma, and the educators who work with them. He has. a background in Restorative Justice/Practices, culturally responsive teaching, LGBTQ+ student advocacy, and trauma-informed practices for teaching and behavior
management.

 

Event Info

  • Location: Virtual
  • Date: June 7, 2022
  • Time: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm ET
  • Phone: