Trauma and Adversity: Turning Hurt into Hope Brian Farragher, MSW, MBA Executive Director, Hanna Boys Center September 22, 2015

The healthy development of all children benefits all of society by providing a solid foundation for responsible citizenship, economic productivity, lifelong physical and mental health, strong communities, and sustainable democracy and prosperity.

What We Know About Brain Development Brains are built over time, shaped by the interaction between genetics and experience. Social, emotional, and cognitive development are highly interrelated. Brain architecture and skills are built in a hierarchical “bottom-up” sequence. Brain plasticity and the ability to change behavior decrease over time.

Relationships Are The “Active Ingredients” Of Early Experience Nurturing and responsive relationships build healthy brain architecture that provides a strong foundation for learning, behavior, and health. When protective relationships are not provided, elevated levels of stress hormones (i.e., cortisol) disrupt brain architecture by impairing cell growth and interfering with the formation of healthy neural circuits.

Ace Score of 0 =Ace Score of 1 =Ace Score of 2 =Ace Score of 3 =Ace Score of 4 =Ace Score of 5 =Ace Score of 6 =Ace Score of 7 =Ace Score of 8 =Ace Score of 9 =Ace Score of 10 = 3 2.8%7.6%6.6%19%9.5%10.5%11.4%12.4%14.3%4.7%0.95% N = 105

Incidents of Physical Abuse by a Family Member US 20,093,920 California 2,492,971 Greater Bay Area 448,000 Sonoma County 33,019 Sonoma Valley 2,240 Number of children under 18 (2010 census) Sonoma Valley 8,000 Sonoma County 117,928 Greater Bay Area 1,600,000 California8,900,000 US71,764,000 ACE Study: 28%

Incidents of Sexual Abuse by Anyone US 15,070,440 California 1,869,000 Greater Bay Area 336,000 Sonoma County 24,764 Sonoma Valley 1,680 Number of children under 18 (2010 census) Sonoma Valley 8,000 Sonoma County 117,928 Greater Bay Area 1,600,000 California8,900,000 US71,764,000 ACE Study: 21%

Children with ACE Score of 4 or more US 11,482,240 California 1,424,000 Greater Bay Area 256,000 Sonoma County 18,868 Sonoma Valley 1,280 Number of children under 18 (2010 census) Sonoma Valley 8,000 Sonoma County 117,928 Greater Bay Area 1,600,000 California8,900,000 US71,764,000 ACE Study: 16%

ACEs In Spokane Elementary School Data from research conducted by Chris Blodgett, University of Washington

Hanna’s Future Linked to What we Know About Neurodevelopment, Trauma and Recovery Building Recognition and Understanding of the Issue in the Region Being a Laboratory for Innovation Disseminating Leading Edge Intervention Building Healthier Communities

Now… Our Feature Presentation!!!

We need to become trauma-informed. Think about how childhood adversity might have shaped kids’ behavior & your choices. Your kids – and their families – are not sick or bad… they are injured. The question is not “What is wrong with you?“ but “What happened to you?” The way out is not the same as the way in… Pain-based interventions do not work. What Does This Mean For Schools?

Kids are doing the best they can, most days. They lack the skills they need. Things change when you change things. Kids need hopeful, optimistic, positive, caring people in their lives. We are doing life and death work. Visit the ACE Website: What Does This Mean For Schools?

So, What Can I Do? Take nothing personally / Never mirror negative behavior or affect. Remain calm and supportive… staff with a heart rate of 100 cannot help kids with a heart rate of 100. Make and practice emergency management plans. Process, Pattern Recognition, Feelings Drive Behavior, Integration. Take it at 45… not head on.

So, What Else Can I Do? Calm the heart… yours and theirs. Identify reenactments - riveting on threat, encourages reenactment. Be creative, be crazy creative… Change is risky business – take some risks. Sometimes do the opposite of what feels right. Discipline is important… love, attachment, relationship is the secret sauce. Way more important.