Learn About Overcoming Childhood Trauma and Building Resilience – July 12

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We are excited to invite you to a screening and discussion of the award-winning documentary: RESILIENCE: THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS AND THE SCIENCE OF HOPE, on Wednesday, July 12 from 9am to noon at the KRESA Auditorium, 1819 Milham Road in Portage. Please RSVP to http://bit.ly/2r6b8BL and print out your free ticket.  (If no seats are available, you may provide your information to be notified of a repeat event, likely late August)

The documentary chronicles the birth of a new movement among pediatricians, therapists, educators and communities, who are using cutting-edge brain science to disrupt cycles of violence, addiction and disease.  To watch a trailer, please click this link:  https://vimeo.com/137282528

The film clearly and succinctly describes Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and shows how researchers and practitioners are finding ways to prevent ACES and mitigate their impact.

If you would like to stay after the film, you can participate in a conversation facilitated by the Michigan ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) initiative about how we can support a trauma-informed and resilience-focused community.  Local mental health professionals will answer questions about trauma and how to respond to children who have experienced trauma.

This event is organized with our partners in the Raising Kalamazoo County coalition and with the Michigan ACE Initiative, which is sponsored by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the MAHP Foundation. You can learn more about the Michigan ACE Initiative on their ACE Facebook page and ACE YouTube page.

Advocate NOW to Protect Funding for After School & Summer Learning

President Trump’s proposed budget reduces funding for after school and summer learning programs to ZERO.  That federal funding–for 21st Century Community Learning Centers–is what supports our local Communities in Schools after school and summer learning programs.  Those offerings help children most in need of support and services that improve attendance and academic and social/emotional skills so they can succeed in school and life.

Representative Fred Upton’s staffer for education in his Washington, DC office has assured ISAAC that Rep. Upton will oppose the total removal of funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. We want to thank Rep. Upton for his support AND request that he advocate for full funding of this program that many of us have seen achieve real impacts in our schools.

Please contact Rep. Upton’s office before or on July 17^th to thank him for his support for continued funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and to urge him to work hard to keep that funding at its current level. You can reach his staff either in Kalamazoo at 269-385-0039, or in Washington, DC at 202-225-3761.

Take Action on July 12th to Urge Congress to Reauthorize MIECHV & the Nurse-Family Partnership

The Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) authorizes federal funding to help states provide proven programs that support vulnerable parents of very young children (e.g., Parents as Teachers, Nurse Family Partnership) and will expire on September 30, 2017. The MIECHV Reauthorization Bill has not yet gone to committee as expected. Our voices are needed to show grassroots support that this is an urgent need and should be acted on at this time.

There is work underway to improve the bill with provisions supported by the National Home Visiting Coalition that are expected to be adopted in the final draft. But it is urgent that the bill be taken up NOW so there is time to do this work and reauthorize MIECHV for the next 5 years before it expires. Please join us in taking action and telling our members of Congress why the MIECHV program and proven home visiting programs like the Nurse-Family Partnership are important to families in our state! Please watch your email for a Call To Action with the details for making your contacts on JULY 12^th, Day of Action.