Resilience Initiative Harnett County

Building Resilience through Community Support

Content of Newsletter

The Purpose of the Resilience Initiative
Community Cafe Questions
Community Cafe Reoccurring Themes
Taking Action
Action Plan
Resource List to Save/Print
Next Community Cafe (Virtual) August 27th
Additional Resources

Welcome to all of our Community Partners that are working to support and build resilience in Harnett County! The Resilience Initiative Harnett County was created after our community viewing of the Resilience Film and a follow-up Community Cafe. During the Community Cafe the group developed action goals.

The overall goal of Resilience Initiative Harnett County is to bring together individuals, agencies, and organizations that will play an important role in building a strong resilient community.

It is times such as these that call on people and communities to have resilience and strength to meet problems head on. As a community we can help lead the way.

COMMUNITY CAFÉ QUESTIONS

Questions that were asked at the Community Café that took place on March 5, 2020

What causes stress in your community?
What does it look like to be a resilient community?
What would make Harnett County a safe and stable community where children are nurtured and families thrive?
How do we extend grace and hold people accountable in a resilient community and what does it look like in children and adults?

TOP COMMUNITY CAFÉ THEMES

HARNETT COUNTY

These are themes that were stood out at the Community Café that took place on March 5, 2020

What causes our community stress?

1. Public Transportation Issues

2. Lack of and Access to Quality Childcare

3. Lack of Availability and Awareness of

Resources

4. Lack of Availability and Accessibility of

Mental Health Resources

What would Harnett Co. look like as a resilient community?

1. Trauma-Informed Community

2. Collaboration and Accessibility of

Resources

3. Reliable and Accessible Public

Transportation

4. Quality Childcare for all Children

What would make Harnett Co. safe and stable where children are nurtured and families thrive?

1. Law Enforcement Involvement

2. Mental Health Services Accessible and

Covered by Insurance

3. Reliable and Accessible Public

Transportation

4. Collaborations between Agencies and

Sectors

How do we extend grace and hold people accountable?

1. Trauma-Informed Community

2. Positive Connections in Community for

Children

3. Parental Encouragement and Supports

4. Helpful Support Programs with Follow

up.

REOCCURRING THEMES

Transportation Issues

Based on feedback from the café, community members expressed concern about the lack of and accessibility to reliable public transportation for concrete supports, job accessibility, medical care and more to support children and families. Select quotes are highlighted below.

“I don’t have transportation for work or childcare.”

“Limited access to transportation for the Hispanic Community.”

Collaboration and Accessibility to Resources

Based on feedback from the café, collaboration and access to resources for children and families creates challenges for families requiring assistance in the Harnett Co. Community. During the café participants on the spot, developed a google docs that will serve as a central document for available resources and each participant agreed to input resources and update it on a regular basis. Select notes are highlighted below.

“There are no resources close by in the community”

“Families lack knowledge of resources and are given the run around.”

“People know the resources and where to find them.”

Access to Quality Childcare

Based on feedback from the café, participants expressed the need for quality childcare that is accessible and affordable. Quality childcare is essential for parental employment and the ability to provide basic needs for food, clothing and housing. Selected notes are highlighted below.

“It can be difficult to locate safe childcare.”

“I can’t afford quality childcare"

Establishing a Trauma-Sensitive/Resilient Community

Based on feedback from the café, participants expressed the benefits of becoming a trauma-sensitive community across all sectors, including law enforcement. Empathy training was suggested multiple times. Selected notes are highlighted below:

“The more people that have the skills, ability and knowledge of trauma, they will become trauma-informed knowing what to ask and how to treat people. Need to include our faith communities.”

“More people need to know the risk factors.”

“People want to help people.”

Availability and Accessibility to Affordable Mental Health Services

Based on feedback from the café, participants communicated the need for affordable and accessible mental health care. Providing families with the opportunity to cope with the stresses of everyday life as well an occasional crisis, not only builds parental resilience, but can also be a protective factor in child abuse and neglect. The stigma associated with requested mental health services was also mentioned as an obstacle. Included in notes pertaining to mental health were the stressors regarding autism and behavioral services. Selected notes are highlighted below.

“Mental Health Services are really needed such as in-depth counseling, anger management and suicide prevention and supports.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to hurt others and myself or others and I need help.”

”Post-partum depression: I’m having scary thoughts and think I might need help.”

In addition to those mentioned above, some participants mentioned lack of job availability, lack of access to concrete supports such as: food, diapers and affordable housing. The need for resources for teens, suicide prevention and healthcare.

Moving Toward Action!!!

The participants of the Community Café gave important input surrounding the needs of Harnett County.

The input from the participants helped to develop a plan of action.

***Click Here*** for The Harnett County Family Resource List

One of the goals from the Community Cafe was to build a 2-page resource document. This resource could be used by the community of individuals working with families and children. This document has a list of resources that families often ask about.

The resource can be accessed from the tab to the left.

This resource document is a living document and it will take the entire community to help keep it up-to-date.

It is recommended that you keep a copy of the PDF on your desktop or print out a hard copy. Keep it handy as you work with our Harnett County Families.