Research shows us that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can lead to long term impacts, including, chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance abuse in adulthood. There is hope. Childhood adversity IS preventable and communities can work together to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors for families and children.
How? By collaborating to shift the prevention focus from individual responsibility to shared community solutions. Resilient Communities is a community-led initiative to prevent adversity and childhood maltreatment throughout South Dakota by building upon each participating community’s unique strengths and vision. The framework is rooted in evidence-based prevention strategies identified by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and other available research-based resources.
Led by a facilitating team of community members, Resilient Communities may come alongside other initiatives or community efforts already in place. Throughout, CPCM will provide technical assistance and training connections to increase community capacity to know about, respond to, and prevent childhood maltreatment, as well as how to build the conditions that can prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and increase Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs).
Resilient Communities aims to:
Aim #1
Support South Dakota communities to increase their cross-sector capacity to know, prevent, respond to, and sustain evidence-based strategies to reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), increase Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and build more resilient, self-healing communities.
Aim #2
Increase awareness and facilitate education on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Resiliency.
Aim #3
Increase awareness of the signs and prevalence of child maltreatment and how to work in cross-sector and multidisciplinary teams to prevent and respond to it.
Aim #4
Connect South Dakota communities to evidence-based resources and trainings available at no or low-cost in our state that can reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for children.
Aim #5
Move from individual responsibility to collaborative, community solutions.
Aim #6
Build a coalition of Resilient Communities in South Dakota that can support and learn from one another. Together, we are stronger!
