Collective Action
We cultivate resilience
TRACEs (Trauma, Resilience, and Adverse Childhood Experiences) represents our upstream move to tackle the root cause of challenges faced by many in our community. The goal? To dramatically improve the health and well-being of our community by addressing ACEs as a root cause of regional health issues.
TRACEs is a partnership of nearly 150 organizations and agencies throughout Central Oregon working together to raise awareness of the effects of trauma, and to reduce its incidence and impact, as well as to build resilience in individuals, families, and our community.
As the Backbone Agency supporting this community-wide collective action partnership and serving as fiscal agent, we at United Way of Central Oregon are facilitating the far reach of TRACEs in our region. We are also a member of the TRACEs Steering Committee, which is helping to guide and fund this work.
TRACEs is working closely with Oregon State University – Cascades. Together they have identified a common way to measure resilience in Central Oregon using tools called the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM) and the Adult Resilience Measure (ARM). They are gathering data on baseline resilience and learning how resilient Central Oregon is as a community.
TRACEs is using the Spectrum of Prevention approach that identifies 6 levels of intervention. The levels are complementary and synergistic. When used together, they have a greater effect than would be possible from a single activity or initiative. Focusing on building resilience and reducing the impacts of trauma is a big deal, because trauma affects each and every one of us.
Become a TRACEs partner! Learn more.
TRACES VIDEO
Join the Movement to Build Resilience in Central Oregon
Join the Movement to Build Resilience in Central Oregon
RESILIENCE VIDEO
How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime
Nadine Burke Harris
How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime
Trauma affects all of us
CHILDHOOD TRAUMA, toxic stress, and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) all refer to the abuse, violence, and distressed family environments that children experience.
Childhood trauma is like PTSD in kids. Chronic exposure to toxic stress disrupts development and can lead to physical, mental, and behavioral problems later in life. ACEs create barriers to education, employment, housing, and access to basic needs. And, ACEs contribute to decreased academic attainment, lost productivity, and negative health outcomes.
The more toxic stress a child faces, the more likely that as an adult, they will be at risk for smoking, alcoholism, drug use, obesity, diabetes, depression, suicide attempts, STDs, heart disease, cancer, stroke, COPD, and early death.
64% of adults faced at least 1 traumatic circumstance as a child.
10% of adults experienced 5 or more.
ACEs lie at the root of many of our region’s most complex mental health, behavioral health, physical health, and social issues, and have a real economic impact right here in Central Oregon.
Resilience builds us up
RESILIENCE is like a vaccination against the impacts of childhood trauma. It means having the skills, social supports, and resources to manage hardship, cope with stress, and bounce back from trauma. Resilience involves individual skills and perspectives, social connections and supports, and access to external resources.
Nurturing individual resilience has been proven to offset the possible negative effects of childhood trauma, including mental health, behavioral health, and physical health issues. And, we’re cultivating it!
We’re focused on nurturing resilience in individuals, families, and our community. We’re creating a social change movement dedicated to making Central Oregon a region where every individual has the strengths, social connectedness, and community resources they need to flourish.
We’re building a movement. Join us!
TRACES VIDEO
Cultivating Resilience 2
Cultivating Resilience 2
RESILIENCE VIDEO
InBrief: Resilience Series
Harvard U. Center for the Developing Child
InBrief: Resilience Series
Results matter
Each year United Way funded community partners report on program outcomes and successes in our community. Last year 27% of Central Oregonians were served by a United Way program or service.Education
Our vision is that children are nurtured by informed parents/caregivers and have access to quality developmental and educational services which prepare them for success in school and in life. Last year we provided support towards this goal for nearly 2,200 individuals.
Financial Stability & Safety Net
Our vision is that individuals and families can meet life’s basic needs (food, shelter, and healthcare) and gain economic stability through education, job training, permanent housing and basic supportive services. We support programs for people living in poverty and other vulnerable populations and last year provided assistance to over 9,800 individuals and families.
Health
Our vision is that all people have access to quality, affordable healthcare and have the opportunity to maximize their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being to lead independent, productive lives. Last year we provided support to over 32,000 individuals.
Resilience
We envision a region where: every individual has the strength, connections, and support needed to thrive; where leaders, organizations, and communities actively build systems that help build resilience; where strength is built and results in high levels of health and well-being and low levels of chronic health conditions; where all children achieve their highest level of education success and graduate on time; and where all adults are financially stable and contributing participants in their community. Last year our resilience building initiatives touched over 30,000 individuals.
