Learning resiliency and the effects of childhood trauma

The screening of the documentary "Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope," sponsored by Havre's Trauma Sensitive Schools Initiative and its community partners, saw 57 people attend and participate in the discussion following.

Representatives of all the partnering agencies were also in attendance. The audience was asked, as a community, "What Can We Do Differently and What Do You Need?" Written responses were tabulated and organized into the themes Family/Home/Parent Support and Visitations, 16 responses; Awareness and More Community Resources, seven; and Working Together as a Community/Agencies/Partners, six.

The film documents research into Adverse Childhood Experiences and how they can cause both mental and physical problems later in life. ACEs are now understood to lead to early onset heart disease diabetes, addiction and depression, and the film documents researchers asking, and what they found when they asked, "Why are we waiting?" and what they found could be done to help children before their physical and mental health problems emerge as adults.

Havre's Trauma Sensitive Schools Initiative plans to have another community event next spring.