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Together, we can help prevent and heal adverse childhood experiences aligning public and private resources so Gwinnett County residents can thrive.

What is our approach with Resilient Gwinnett?

Promoting
Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)

Preventing
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)

Practicing Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)*
*Non-medical care

For us, this is what Resilience means.

Resilience is the ability to navigate challenges, identify and cope with strong emotions, manage stress and practice healthy habits.

While we cannot prevent all of life’s ups and downs, we can equip the children in our lives with the tools and knowledge they need to cultivate a resilient spirit and practice self-care and compassion.

Resilience will not eliminate pain and hardship, but it does equip us to find meaning in adversity, develop strong coping skills and encourage positive growth over time.

The 7C’s of Resilience - Our Building Blocks for a Resilient Gwinnett

Connection
ConnectionFostering a sense of belonging and strengthening ties with good friends, caring family members, schools, and communities to provide youth with a sense of security.
Coping
CopingTeaching a variety of stress-reduction skills and social skills so youth can cope with the stresses of everyday life to cope more effectively and be better prepared to overcome future challenges.
Confidence
ConfidenceHelping youth enhance self-confidence by identifying their individual strengths so they can realize their potential and can demonstrate competence in real-life scenarios.
Competence
CompetenceTeaching youth to handle stress effectively boosts confidence, self-esteem, and encourages them to explore new experiences beyond their comfort zones.
Contribution
ContributionAllowing youth to explore how they matter and can take part in the world around them to build a sense of gratitude.
Character
CharacterHelping youth find a sense of self-worth and confidence by helping them learn their values and stick to them.
Control
ControlTeaching youth that they do have control over their choices and actions and how that can determine the results of a given situation.
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What is trauma?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma is an event, series of events, or sets of circumstances that a person experiences as emotionally or physically harmful or life-threatening. These situations may affect an individual’s mental, physical, social, functioning, emotional, or spiritual well-being.


According to World Health Organization (WHO), globally, one out of seven 10 - 19-year-olds experience mental health conditions, that are largely unrecognized and untreated.

The three types of trauma

Complex Trauma

Early childhood events can profoundly impact a child’s development and attachment formation, affecting their coping and functioning in adulthood.

Chronic Trauma

Any multiple or repetitive traumatic events that produce a cumulative effect are considered chronic trauma.

Accute Trauma

These events are one-time traumatic incidents that have short-term effects and typically lead to a relatively swift recovery.

The three E’s of Trauma

Event

It’s any situation and circumstance involving a trauma that includes physical, emotional, and psychological threats of a traumatic experience.

Experience

After an event, the person’s experience is the emotional response to what occurred and the meaning they designated to the event.

Effects

The adverse effects of traumatic events can persist long after the actual event and may manifest as individuals begin to process their experiences.

Racial Trauma

It is any psychological and emotional distress experienced by individuals or communities due to exposure to racial discrimination, racism, or racially motivated violence.

Historical Trauma

Historical trauma includes shared psychological wounds from past events or oppression, with intergenerational effects, impacting individuals beyond direct experiences.

Community Violence

Community violence refers to acts of violence within a specific neighborhood, encompassing various forms like interpersonal, gang-related, gun, or domestic violence.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

ACEs are potentially traumatic childhood experiences (ages 0-17) with lasting impacts on adulthood. They include violence, neglect, abuse, housing and food insecurity, and discrimination.

The Three Realms of ACEs

Household

Events like divorce, incarceration, neglect, homelessness, addiction, mental illness, bullying, and abuse can lead to ACEs in a child’s home.

Community

Discrimination, violence, poor water and air quality, lack of jobs, poverty, poor housing quality, structural racism, and food scarcity are some of the events that may lead to toxic stress in communities.

Environment

Natural disasters like a tornado or even a pandemic and the current climate crisis are known to be events that may lead to ACEs.

Unaddressed Trauma: Consequences and Impact

Trauma affects all ages and genders, resulting in a universal issue. The cost to U.S. employers is staggering, estimated at $193.2 billion yearly, due to decreased productivity from mental health conditions. Globally, anxiety and depression contribute to over $1 trillion lost in productivity each year.

Childhood and adolescence are especially vulnerable to trauma’s impact, shaping future mental well-being and societal roles. Negative early-life experiences heighten the risk of various mental health conditions.

Neurobiological research confirms trauma’s negative effects on students’ concentration, memory and language abilities, hindering academic success and healthy relationships.

To address trauma in Gwinnett’s youth, prioritizing prevention and intervention is crucial. Early detection, support systems and therapeutic interventions can empower individuals to overcome trauma’s adverse effects, cultivating resilience and creating a healthier community.

Current Training Opportunities

Stewards of Children

Stewards of Children is an adult-focused prevention training program that centers on improving the awareness of the prevalence, consequences, and circumstances of child sexual abuse (CSA). The training aims to educate adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to CSA.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid trains adults who regularly interact with adolescents (ages 12-18) to assist them during mental health or addiction challenges. The course covers common mental health issues, adolescent development, and a 5-step action plan for crisis and non-crisis situations.

QPR for Suicide Prevention

People trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to Question, Persuade and Refer someone to help. These 3 simple steps can save a life from suicide. Saying "yes" to this training truly could save a life.

Connections Matter

Learn about trauma, ACEs, mind-body connections, and strategies for personal and community resilience. Create trauma-informed environments to manage stress and build stronger connections. The 4-hour training is offered virtually and eligible for 4 CEU credits.

Mandated Reporter Training

This free online training teaches mandated reporters how to recognize and report child maltreatment, as well as understand their legal responsibilities. It includes practice scenarios and is offered as a 1 1/2, 2, or 3-hour facilitated session by local PCA GA Mandated Reporter trainers.

Register for an Upcoming Training
Request a Custom In-House Training
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