Contact: Liza Patchen-Short
Children’s Mental Health Liaison
Liza.Patchen-Short@snoco.org
425-388-7254
Children’s Wellness Coalition Launches Effort to Ease Childhood Trauma
EVERETT, Snohomish County, November 1, 2016—Snohomish County Human Services, Snohomish Health District, and the Children’s Wellness Coalition are pleased to announce this week the beginning of a movement to help Snohomish County schools become trauma informed.
A group of 35 agencies—including schools, social services, and law enforcement—have been planning over the past year about how to strengthen our tools for helping traumatized children. The goal is to increase resiliency, decrease expulsions and suspensions, and help kids become more engaged in school. The Children’s Wellness Coalition is dedicated to assisting our schools and community agencies in their mission help kids and our community thrive.
This week the Children’s Wellness Coalition plans to turn planning into action with two days of discussion and training.
It includes a free 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2016 screening of “Paper Tigers,” a movie about how Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, Wash. was able to help struggling teens with dramatic results. After the movie, a panel discussion will be led by Jim Sporleder, the former principal of the school. That event will be at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett, Wash.
The next day, November 2, 2016, the Coalition is sponsoring lectures and discussions lead by Dr. Robert Macy from the International Trauma Center, as well as Jim Sporleder, consultant/trainer and the former principal at Lincoln High School. By having these national leaders in trauma informed care come to Snohomish County, we hope to further integrate their insights into our community agencies and schools.
At the November 2 event, Snohomish County Human Services with its Coalition partners will announce next steps for implementing this important work, including a grant program for schools.
The Snohomish County Human Services Department helps all persons meet their basic needs and develop their potential by providing timely, effective human services and building community. The Housing &Community Services Division administers a wide range of programs that provide affordable housing, community development, and related services to low-income and homeless persons.