Awareness 2 Action

Yvonne Frazier on Collaboration and Creatively Addressing Community Needs

On this week’s episode, we’re talking with Yvonne Frazier about community partnerships, creating a vision, networking, and building a better future.
Yvonne Frazier is the Program Manager for Healthy Families of Shenandoah and Page Counties and founder of Community Care and Learning Center in New Market VA, Shenandoah County’s first non-profit childcare center. She has worked with family and children for more than 30 years, collaborating with other agencies and groups to creatively address community needs. Yvonne is a graduate of JMU’s Social Work program and a field supervisor for JMU students from several disciplines. In 2019, Yvonne received the Virginia Governor’s Award for Enhancing the Prosperity and Quality of Life in Rural Virginia. She and her husband have four adult children and the added joy of three grandchildren.  
Community Care & Learning Center: https://www.communitycarelearningcenter.com
The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.

Dr. Somer George on Strengthening Relationships, Savoring Joy & Delight, and Engaging in Lifelong Learning

On this week’s episode, we’re talking with Dr. Somer George about strengthening and repairing relationships, savoring moments of joy and delight, and curiously engaging in lifelong learning.
Dr. Somer George is a licensed counselor who loves helping families become happier, healthier, and more connected with each other. She does this through providing assessment, training, and supervision at the Virginia Child and Family Attachment Center (VCFAC) and Secure Child Program in Charlottesville, VA. She received her Ph.D. in Counseling and Supervision at James Madison University and teaches part time in the Masters in Counseling Program at Eastern Mennonite University. She lives with her husband and two children on a hill overlooking the Shenandoah Valley, where she likes to take walks and read books on a wide-range of topics from child development to memoirs.
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Dr. Somer George can be contacted at somer@george.net
The Virginia Child and Family Attachment Center (VCFAC): https://attachmentclinic.org
Mentioned Resources:
The Power of Discord: https://www.claudiamgoldmd.com/the-power-of-discord/
Becoming Attached: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/547830.Becoming_Attached
Parenting from the Inside Out: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/288692/parenting-from-the-inside-out-by-daniel-j-siegel-md-and-mary-hartzell-med/
The Six Needs of Every Child: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48855880-the-6-needs-of-every-child
Attachment Theory in Action: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/attachment-theory-in-action-with-karen-doyle-buckwalter/id1305291387
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The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.
 

Dr. Matt Pandel on Community Engagement, Finding your Passion, and Trauma Awareness

On this week’s episode, we’re talking with Dr. Matt Pandel about the winding paths we take to reach work we love, community engagement, finding our interests, and becoming aware of trauma.
Dr. Matt Pandel began working with the Northwestern Community Services Board in December 2009 as a child/adolescent therapist.  Since that time he has created a much sought-after diagnostic and assessment monitoring program that provides regional youth-serving agencies with advanced clinical oversight of children with significant behavioral and psychological challenges.  Originally a teacher and minister, Dr. Pandel continued his education, earning a Ph.D. in Pastoral Counseling Psychology.  In addition to his work with the CSB, he operates a consulting practice and has served as a clinical professor of psychology at several institutions. 
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Upcoming Virtual ACES Trainings:
April 28, 2021: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpcOuppzgsE9Op4w-bY6vyLmu0URFaOur-
May 5, 2021: https://hopestarter-racsb.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYtdOqrrjwpE9KaaUXZH5ykMR8SY1N8S8ao
May 26, 2021: https://hopestarter-racsb.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwlc-GoqDsvEtRGQkGwg5ki6V5Gb8kj1zlo
 
A Career Interest Inventory: https://careerwise.minnstate.edu/careers/clusterSurvey
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The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.
 

Angie Burleson on Sharing our Stories, Overcoming Shame, and Creating Change at Every Level

On this week’s episode, we’re sitting down with Angie Burleson to discuss the importance of sharing our stories, the power of overcoming shame, and our ability to create change at every level.
Angie Burleson, APP, CHt, is a Community Development Specialist and Polarity Therapist committed to changing the conversation surrounding substance use and mental health by empowering individuals and connecting communities to become recovery ready through a trauma informed lens. Angie’s own struggle with addiction, family experiences, and education gives her a multi-faceted and unique perspective which has inspired her to lobby for public health focused addiction policy, expand peer support, advocate for parents, those in active addiction and recovery alike, and organize educational events.
Angie is Founder of Arizona Recovers, a recovery community organization, which provides harm reduction based peer support, community, and prevention and also Project Director of AZ Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium. 
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Arizona Recovers: https://arizonarecovers.org
Sesame Street in Communities: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org
Big Bird’s Comfy Cozy Nest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciGL9fCa8uk
Center on Addiction/Partnership to End Addiction: https://drugfree.org
Center for Motivation & Change: https://motivationandchange.com/online-and-in-print-resources/
SAMHSA: https://www.samhsa.gov
PAL Support Groups: https://palgroup.org
Faces and Voices of Recovery Map: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org
Recovery Advocacy Project: https://www.recoveryvoices.com
 
Unbroken Brain by Maia Szalavitz
Chasing the Scream by Johann Hari
I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn't): Making the Journey from "What Will People Think?" to "I Am Enough" by Brene Brown
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The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.
 
 

Kym Laube on Resilience, Community Parenting, and Using the Tools We Have to Create Change

On this week’s episode, we’re sitting down with Kym Laube to discuss resilience, listening to your inner voice, community parenting, and starting small to create big change.
Kym Laube is the Executive Director of Human Understanding Growth Services, Inc., HUGS, Inc., located in Westhampton Beach, NY. In this position she brings over 30 years of substance use prevention knowledge and expertise, leading the organization to provide a full array of multidimensional prevention services. Kym is a national trainer and speaker, working with notable leaders in prevention including CADCA.
Having participated in the HUGS, Inc. Teen Institute program in 1986 as a high school student, Kym understands firsthand, the profound impact, lifelong influence and leadership skills the Teen Institute program provides to young people. From student leader to Executive Director in 2002, Kym’s mission has been to empower others to seek their full potential and become agents of change in the world. Kym offers dynamic, passionate and interactive keynotes, trainings and workshops for large and small groups with an uncanny ability to talk with and not at people.  In 2019, Kym presented to over 25,000 individuals, young and old across our great country.
HUGS Inc.: http://hugsinc.org  &
 https://www.facebook.com/hugsinc.whb/posts/hugs-incs-executive-director-kym-laube-was-given-the-opportunity-to-speak-during/10156662755989394/
Long Island Addiction Resource Center: http://longislandaddictionresourcecenter.org/about-us/
NY Times Marathon Piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/opinion/pandemic-wall-fitness-running.html
Wash the dishes not because it is dirty nor because you are told to wash it, but because you love the person who will use it next.   – Mother Teresa
 
The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.
 

Jimeca Iyomere on Recovery, Embracing Support, and the Role of Hope in Healing

In this episode, Jimeca Iyomere shares her story of recovery, and reflects on the concept of finding purpose in pain. We talk about accepting support and resources, the role of hope in recovery, and what community members can do to support individuals living with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Jimeca is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Forensic Peer Support Specialist with Northwestern’s Substance Use Disorder Peer Program. Jimeca has lived experience with recovering from what she describes as debilitating mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction. Jimeca’s roles include work with individual community members and the intensive outpatient therapy groups of Northwestern’s drug court program. Jimeca also offers the peer perspective portion of Northwestern’s Crisis Intervention Training, sharing her story of recovery with the local law enforcement and clinicians who participate. Jimeca’s training and certifications include Peer Recovery Specialist training and state certification, Forensic Peer Support Specialist training, Forensic Peer Support Specialist Supervisor certification, Digital Peer Support training, Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid training, Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor training, and Virginia Family Network’s Advanced Parent Leadership training. Jimeca is also a Certified NAMI Connections Support Group facilitator.
**Episode Correction: It is the National Council for Behavioral Health that oversees the implementation of Mental Health First Aid nationally, not Mental Health America. 
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Northwestern Community Services: http://www.nwcsb.com
NWCSB Peer Recovery Specialists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COeIOKHIZvw&feature=youtu.be
Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org
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The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.

Keith Cartwright on Building Better Relationships and Understanding ACES

On this week’s episode, we’re sitting down with Keith Cartwright to discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences, where prevention and health promotion should begin, and how we can build better relationships in our homes, our workplaces, and our communities.
Keith Cartwright is a Behavioral Health Wellness Consultant for the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. In this role, he leads the statewide initiative to grow awareness in communities about the developmental impacts of adverse childhood experiences. To date, the initiative has trained over 200 ACE Interface trainers and presenters in Virginia. Keith also works part-time as the Alcohol and Drug Education Coordinator at Randolph-Macon College. 
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ACES Trainers across Virginia are working to raise awareness through education and connect people to helpful resources in an effort to reduce ACES and ultimately improve the health of our communities. Register Here:
February 17th ACES Training: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMsd-2prT0rH9BEH_RGGXm3wC7nYm1N88ic
February 24th ACES Training: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqdeGvrD0jHdERb8_WYngzWyZpSEqYi2Lu
March 18th ACES Training: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpce6srT4rH9fDUfOsNaeG-srK98F1KB3_
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ACES Overview: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html
Nadine Burke Harris – How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime: https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime
Johann Hari's Lost Connections: https://thelostconnections.com/mobile/
The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.
 

Eric Benson & Megan Gordon on Trauma-Informed Education, Community Partnerships, and Getting Involved

On this week’s episode, we have a conversation with Eric Benson and Megan Gordon about the impact of trauma informed education, building community partnerships, and the role that EVERYONE can play in the education of young people.
Eric Benson began his career in education as a third-grade teacher in Page County Public Schools. He has served in various roles including high school assistant principal, principal, and Director of Instruction. He is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Innovation and Accountability. Eric is committed to making sure all students' academic, social, and emotional needs are met on a daily basis. 
Megan Gordon is the Program Director for Page Alliance for Community Action, a substance misuse prevention coalition in Page County.  Megan has been in this position since 2015. Prior to serving as the Program Director for the coalition, Megan worked for Page County Public Schools as the Secretary to the Superintendent and fiscal administrator for state and federal grants.  
Page County Public Schools: https://www.pagecounty.k12.va.us
Page Alliance for Community Action: https://www.pagecoalition.org
Creating Trauma Informed Schools: https://starr.org/10-steps-to-create-a-trauma-informed-resilient-school/
The views and opinions expressed on Awareness 2 Action are those of the guests and host and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Prevention Department or Northwestern Community Services.