Early Childhood Coalition of the Greater Helena Area

Early Childhood Coalition of the Greater Helena Area June 13, 2016 Meeting Minutes 3:45-5:00 p.m. at Ray Bjork Learning Center, Room 6 (1600 8th Avenue) ecchelena.org

Facilitator: Trista Vonada Notes: Trina Filan Snacks: Drenda Niemann

3:45 Introductions/Announcements/Updates  Community Café report o It was the bomb diggity, yo. There shall be more. We shall triumph, for we are mighty.  Important community information to share o Music in the park, 1:30-5:30 (Annie Needs)  School board presentations – Helena and East Helena o Helena presentation will be in July  Mary Pat will be the liaison for the ECC for the School District next year.

4:00 Featured Focus: Getting to a Trauma-Smart Community: Creating a Common Language and Building Bridges across Sectors  Join us for break-out conversations about o Creating a common language around trauma and ACEs . “Toxic stress” instead of “trauma” . Experience shapes the brain . Adaptation versus expectations . Your kids, my kids, our kids . I will care what you know when I know that you care . It takes a village . ACE – no acronyms . Building a compassionate community, rather than a trauma-informed community  Use YCC work already done: o “40 developmental assets” versus protective factors – strengths- based model (http://www.search- institute.org/research/developmental-assets) o These resources already exist – wouldn’t be hard to bring them back o Easy call to action – everybody can do something – intentional shift from “this is only for the professionals” . Adversity isn’t destiny . “ACEs Are All of Us” . What’s happened, not what’s wrong . Keep using training opportunity – Brie is willing to train employees – standing time and place, but also take it to employees at their places of employ With the focus on the whole child, we promote community collaboration to network resources and streamline services in support of the health, safety, care and education for children ages 0 – 8 and their families in the greater Helena area. o Recognizing, training, and building “Trauma Smart” champions within and across sectors . Who are we missing? How do we get them ID’d and involved . Who do we have? Many people might be self-identifying already . Align with state efforts underway . Characteristics:  Intentionality  Very knowledgeable – beyond ACEs to early relationships and attachment  Know early childhood development  Recognize a “trauma response”  Be curious about motivation behind the behavior – What happened, nit what’s wrong  Family-friendly language, but also professional language  Many layers – all sectors, all levels of hierarchy  Layers of training, coaching . Plaque of recognition? o Changing the culture of the Greater Helena Area to be “Trauma Smart” – building trust across silos and sectors . Invite one individual each from outside of education and social work – talk about trauma – give them tangible tools to deal with trauma . Conscious discipline – create a pamphlet – redirect before firing . List of resources in the community – housing, child care, therapies, names of people who can help . Be respectful of the constraints of business owners’ timelines . Tie into Montana Meth Project – focus on preventative stages . Show businesses that this is worth their while – that they can save money and retain employees . Create campaign like “Expect Respect” . Don’t promote employer diagnosis of employees . ACEs aren’t about low-income people. They’re ubiquitous across culture. . Host Business Before Hours Event (Biz 2 Biz) to talk about these toolkits . Employee Assistance Programs = they are benefits to employers and employees

4:50 Committee Updates  Communication and Advocacy – Chelsea Segrest  Early Care and Education – Brandi Thomas o Breaking for the summer o Working on creating a WOYC scrap book  Family Health and Support – Brie Oliver o Home Visiting Task Force – CFS has decided not to refer into parent support services until there is 3 months of sobriety. This will save money for CFS ($1800 for psych eval)  Fiscal Oversight – Trina Filan o Golf tournament – July 9 o Change “Benefits the ECC” to full name

4:55 Next Meetings  July – No meeting  August 2 (Tuesday) – ECC LT Meeting (RBLC Room 6, 3:45-5:00 p.m.) With the focus on the whole child, we promote community collaboration to network resources and streamline services in support of the health, safety, care and education for children ages 0 – 8 and their families in the greater Helena area.  August 8 (Monday) – General ECC Meeting (RBLC Room 6, 3:45-5:00 p.m.)

5:00 Adjourn

With the focus on the whole child, we promote community collaboration to network resources and streamline services in support of the health, safety, care and education for children ages 0 – 8 and their families in the greater Helena area.