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CAPC Newsletter                                                  December 2017


Trauma Informed Self-Care Tips for the Holidays
by Gretchen Miller


The holiday season is upon us: at home, in the  workplace, in our communities, classrooms, and far and wide in the media, online, and  i n neighborhood stores.

This time of year can inspire festive gatherings and activities of joy, togetherness, and heartfelt memories with family and friends. For some, though, the holidays can be a challenging time of stress, adversity, and a difficult trigger of strong emotions, pressures, or traumatic experiences.

Here are some self-care tips to be mindful of for managing the holiday season. With all the hustle and bustle of this time of year, remember to continue to use a   trauma informed lens and approach   in our lives and work:
 
Holiday Triggers  - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recommends that service providers assess their own holiday triggers and reflect on what may activate these. When we are aware of our own experiences and reactions to holiday stress, it offers an opportunity for us to regulate, be conscious of our emotions, body language, responses, and its impacts on others (i.e. clients, families, staff, coworkers, etc.) "When we are attuned to our own reactions, we are better able to provide nurture and balance" (Gill, 2014). To facilitate this awareness, try making a list or create a magazine photo collage of holiday triggers or expectations you experience and another list or collage that identifies approaches you can realistically employ to manage them in healthy and proactive ways. Identifying triggers and coping in these creative ways can also be empowering for our clients and help trauma practitioners adapt or change the delivery of activities during this time of year.
 
Avoid Holiday Activity Overload  - Many organizations and programs I have worked for see an increase of requests and interest from volunteer groups with schools, colleges, places of worship, and communi ty projects willing to help out and donate their time during the holidays and for clients in need. This generosity in the form of gifts, holiday parties, donated meals, special outings, and more are wonderful to see, but sometimes there can be a whirlwind of holiday activities and ongoing happenings that can become overwhelming and very deregulating for both staff and clients to handle effectively, which in the end can create more traumatic stress and the inability to cope with what is taking place. It is worth reconsidering and scaling back events and activities to include what is beneficial for the emotional safety and true needs of clients from a trauma focused perspective and inquiry (Volk, 2016).
 
Be Aware of Common Trauma Reactions and Holiday Impact  - Be especially mindful of the impact the holidays can have on well-being and its influence on trauma reactions. The holidays can heighten emotions of loss, loneliness, anxiety, tension, sadness, and much more. Fatigue or poor eating and drinking habits influenced by holiday activities and pressures can take a physical toll. Sensory-based experiences with holiday-inspired music and smells can be painful for some survivors to navigate, as well as past memories, traditions, or loved ones. Trauma informed care recognizes how these experiences can impact a survivor during this season. Create a holiday safety plan for yourself, your staff, and clients (Miller, 2016) that support well-being, recovery, and uses strength-based strategies and aspirational values to assi st with coping.
 
If you are looking for more ideas or to meet the needs of specific populations or issues during the holidays (i.e. veterans, grief, divorce, homelessness, etc.), the resources below offer additional considerations to help manage the holidays with a proactive, practical, and encouraging approach in the spirit of trauma-informed care. Season's greetings for a safe and healthy holiday!


References

SAMHSA Six Key Principles to Trauma Informed Approach  https://www.samhsa.gov/nctic/trauma-interventions 

The Role of Right-Brain to Right-Brain Communication and Presence in Therapy- TLC, Lori Gill  https://www.starr.org/training/tlc/blog/role-right-brain-right-brain-communication-and-presence-therapy 

Recognizing Holiday Triggers of Trauma- SAMHSA, Katie Volk  https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/hpr-resources/recognizing-holiday-triggers 

Getting through the Holidays Resource List  http://www.survivingspirit.com/resources_holidays.php 

Holiday Stress- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network  h ttp://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/holiday-stress

Finding a Safe Place: Supporting Safety, Self-Regulation, and Sensory-Based Interventions- TLC, Gretchen M. Miller  https://www.starr.org/training/tlc/blog/finding-safe-place-supporting-safety-self-regulation-and-sensory-based

Holiday Stress Resource Center- American Psychological Association  http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/holiday-stress.aspx




Cost of Child Abuse and Neglect 
Rival Other Major Public Health Problems

Child maltreatment is a serious and prevalent public health problem in the United States. In fiscal year 2008, U.S. state and local child protective services (CPS) received more than 3 million reports of children being abused or neglected-or about 6 complaints per minute, every day. An estimated 772,000 children were classified by CPS authorities as being maltreated and 1,740 children aged 0 to 17 died from abuse and neglect in 2008.
 
The financial costs for victims and society are substantial. A recent CDC study,  The Economic Burden of Child Maltreatment in the United States and Implications for Prevention,  found the total lifetime estimated financial costs associated with just one year of confirmed cases of child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse and neglect) is approximately $124 billion.
 
Published in  Child Abuse and Neglect, The International Journal ,  the study looked at confirmed child maltreatment cases-1,740 fatal and 579,000 non-fatal-for a 12-month period. Findings show each death due to child maltreatment had a lifetime cost of about $1.3 million, almost all of it in money that the child would have earned over a lifetime if he or she had lived. The lifetime cost for each victim of child maltreatment who lived was $210,012, which is comparable to other costly health conditions such as stroke with a lifetime cost per person estimated at $159,846 or type 2 diabetes, which is estimated between $181,000 and $253,000.
 
 A promising array of prevention and response programs have great potential to reduce child maltreatment. Given the substantial economic burden of child maltreatment, the benefits of prevention will likely outweigh the costs for effective programs.


 
Family Strengthening  
Mini-Grants Now Available!
 
We are excited to announce that funding is available for Family Strengthening mini-grant proposals for the 2017-18 fiscal year. Mini-grants will be awarded up to $2,000. Funding is provided by the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council (ACAPC).
 
Grants are available for qualified organizations and agencies to provide Family Strengthening programs within the County of Amador.
 
Family Strengthening is the premise that children do well when families do well, and that
families do well when they live in supportive communities. Enhancing connections within
families, and between families, and the institutions that affect them, result in better outcomes
for children and their families.
 
Mini-Grant Application

Mini-Grant applications may be submitted to ACAPC at any time throughout the 2017-18 fiscal year, however grant reviews and awards will occur bi-monthly, suggested application deadline dates are as follows:
Friday, December 29, 2017 - 5:00pm
Wednesday, February 28, 2018 - 5:00pm
Monday, April 30, 2018 - 5:00pm
Upcoming Events

Addressing ACES
(Adverse Childhood Experiences)
Join CAPC in creating a county-wide effort to recognize and address the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACEs) in Amador County.

Next meeting: Tuesday, December 12, 3:00-5:00pm. Print flyer HERE.
Light refreshments included.


Free Mandated Reporter Training  
The second Thursday of every month, from 10:00am - 12:00pm, the Child Abuse Prevention Council is holding free mandated reporter trainings. Open to parents, child care providers, teachers, the community, staff or colleagues needing a refresher course, or new staff with no previous training, give us a call, (209) 223-5921. For the flyer with all the information, click HERE. 


Next CAPC Meeting
Monday, January 8, 10:30am-12:00pm
975 Broadway, Jackson 
  
Helping Children Cope with Holiday Stress
 
Whatever your special holiday , the holiday season can cause stress in young children. Children respond to stress in their own ways: crying, tantrums, clinging, excessive energy, temporary regression such as thumb sucking and many other ways. These tips can help reduce stressful situations!
 
Establish predictable routines. Eat regular meals. Make sure that children get enough sleep. Plan for rest times. 

Take time to explain the day's activities. Children need to know what is going to happen.

Prepare ahead for a hectic day. Plan for snacks. Quick, take-along snacks such as crackers, veggies, and fruit require no refrigeration and can be shared when shopping lines are long or hunger makes tempers flare.

Slow down . If the family is always rushing, consider cutting back on the number of planned activities or schedule them over several days.

Allow time for children and you to play and move. Most shopping activities are boring to children. Allow them time to use some of their endless energy!

Set a good example yourself. Avoid overextending yourself by trying to do too much. Plan quiet times and "get away" activities for yourself.

Share humor in difficult situations. Take a "step back" and relax. Breathe.

Express positive appreciation for cooperative behavior. Provide LOTS AND LOTS OF HUGS!

Discuss any changes in routine. Plan ahead if you are expecting guests. Put away breakable or "special things." Let your children share in planning how to make your guests comfortable.
 
 
Happy and Safe Holidays from all of us at the 
Child Abuse Prevention Council!
About CAPC

Our Vision
All children know how they are valued; all families receive the support, education and tools necessary to give every child a safe, healthy, and nurturing home; and a community that actively supports the health, safety, and education of its children.

Our Mission 
CAPC is committed to preventing all forms of child abuse in Amador County through community partnerships, free trainings, education, and family-centered events that value children, strengthen families, and engage communities. 
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Investing in Our Youngest Children
Stay up to date on all the latest news and information for the youngest children in our county! Sign up for First 5 Amador's monthly e-newsletter HERE!