Several community groups and a state agency are partnering to host a public speaking event with Dr. Christopher Blodgett of Washington State University on creating rauma-informed communities at the Chamber Assembly Room at Z.J. Loussac Library on Nov. 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Our understanding of brain development and the impact of adversity and chronic stress in childhood are changing how we understand risk and how we think about solutions. Thanks to a decade-old study conducted by Kaiser Permanente and the CDC, scientists now know that chronic stress, also known as toxic stress, caused by traumatic experiences during childhood such as child maltreatment or neglect, parental substance abuse, or sexual abuse have a direct link with an increased risk for chronic diseases due to their impact on the child’s developing brain and immune system.
In practical and plain language, Dr. Blodgett will present the science and the recommendations for how the integration of trauma-informed approaches improve outcomes in education, health care, criminal justice response, and social services. The event is hosted by the Alaska Children’s Trust, the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership, thread, Mat-Su Health Foundation and the State of Alaska Advisory Board on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Dr. Blodgett is a Washington State University faculty member and a licensed clinical psychologist. He has been the principal investigator for more than three dozen federal and national foundation grants addressing high-risk children and families. Dr. Blodgett and his team partner with communities and systems to adapt the science of resilience, brain development and trauma treatment to better address trauma resulting from adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Now funded by multiple federal and philanthropic grants, his work documents the profound and immediate consequences of ACEs and tests practical actions to improve child, family, and system outcomes.
The event is open to the public and will be broadcast via webinar. For more information on the event or its sponsoring organizations, contact Laura Avellaneda-Cruz, (907) 248-7373 or email: [email protected]