When children experience strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity in childhood without the support of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments, it can lead to high levels of stress in our bodies and brains – called “toxic stress.” Toxic stress can lead to long-term physical and behavioral health problems if not addressed. Although it is critical to focus on preventing
As the holiday season approaches, Pathways to Resilience recognizes that this time looks different for everyone. While holidays may be joyous occasions with loved ones, this is not always the case. Complex family dynamics, historical trauma, loss of family members, and varying family values can contribute to stress, on top of travel, pressure to participate in social events, disrupted routines,
Pathways to Resilience provides a national forum to help states and communities advance healing-centered, trauma-responsive policies and programs across sectors. With a growing understanding of the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the benefits of protective factors and primary intervention strategies on mitigating the impact of trauma and toxic stress, an increasing number of states are creating dedicated offices,
Language can have a powerful influence on how we understand our relationships to the world and one another, and many people don’t realize that the English language contains many common phrases and metaphors that infer or explicitly reference violence. Invoking violent imagery casually in our daily conversations – whether professional or personal – can cause harm, particularly to individuals who
The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth (TCCY) was established by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1988. An independent, nonpartisan agency created to ensure the state’s policies and programs effectively promote and protect the health, well-being and development of children, youth and families, TCCY was created as a permanent commission. TCCY is the state’s centralized informational resource and advocacy agency
On June 7th, Pathways to Resilience held the first in an ongoing series of Learning Network Sessions, focused on Trauma-Responsive Approaches to Promoting Resilience Across Sectors. Presenters included Dave Ellis, former Executive Director of the New Jersey Office of Resilience and Pathways Expert Advisory Committee Members Melissa Merrick, PhD, President & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America; and Ricky Robertson,
On September 21, Bruce Perry, MD, PhD, was joined by Amy Meyertholen, MSW with the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers and Dr. Elaine Rankin with the Cottonwood Oak Creek School District to discuss how the Neurosequential Model can help people respond to and care for children in developmentally appropriate ways in different settings.
Law enforcement is called to the scene of a domestic violence incident where children are present. Mom receives medical attention and her partner leaves in the back of the police car. The children arrive at school the next day physically and emotionally exhausted. They may complain of physical ailments, have emotional meltdowns, or act out towards their peers. In short,
On November 30, 2022, Pathways to Resilience hosted a Learning Network session highlighting the importance of involving people with lived experience in the design and implementation of policies and programs that impact them. The session featured Cherene Caracao, founder and CEO of Promise Resource Network and Pathways to Resilience Expert Advisory Committee member, and William Kellibrew, international advocate for survivors
When a family or young person is involved in court, it is safe to assume they are experiencing heightened stress. They may be involved in the court system because of a traumatic situation and may have also experienced significant adversity leading up to the situation. Traditional court settings tend to be formal and authoritative and not conducive to a journey