National Council for Behavioral Health and Fostering Futures Partner for Trauma-Informed Learning Community Initiative

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fostering Futures, a Wisconsin initiative championed by First Lady Tonette Walker, was formed based on the belief that all Wisconsin children and families should have the tools to thrive in nurturing communities; that individuals, communities and government need to integrate trauma-informed and strength-based principles into their relationships, culture, policies and practices; and that every child should be in safe, stable and nurturing relationships.

The National Council for Behavioral Health shares this passion and vision for trauma-informed care. Since 2011, the National Council has partnered with over 350 organizations in 25 learning communities to advance trauma-informed approaches across organizations, communities and systems.

Today, Wisconsin and Fostering Futures take leadership in trauma-informed care to the next level by launching an innovative partnership with the National Council for Behavioral Health. The partnership will create four learning communities scheduled to run from April 2016 to May 2018 involving 12 County level Child Protective Services teams and 8 State level department teams. This groundbreaking focus on infusing trauma-informed approaches into county and state level departments will give leaders and staff a shared language and knowledge around trauma and trauma-informed care, and position them to be able to disseminate this critical approach across their entire systems.

Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council said, "Individuals and families need social and health care services and practitioners who realize the widespread impact of trauma, recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma and respond by integrating knowledge about trauma into all policies, procedures and practices. The National Council is proud to support Wisconsin in their efforts to ensure that, for the residents of their state, trauma-informed care is the norm not the exception."

Through webinars, resources, and hands-on training with the National Council's leading experts in trauma-informed care, the four cohorts will revise their organizational practices and culture to better serve their communities.

"Over the course of the next few days, teams will be educated, coached, and provided the tools to develop a plan allowing their organizations to become fully trauma-informed," said First Lady Tonette Walker. "It is our hope that over the next two years, these teams will pave the way for others to take the same journey."

To learn more, please visit http://www.fosteringfutureswisconsin.org/.

The National Council for Behavioral Health is the unifying voice of America's mental health and addictions treatment organizations. Together with 2,500 member organizations, serving 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council was instrumental in bringing Mental Health First Aid to the USA and more than 500,000 individuals have been trained. In 2014, the National Council merged with the State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS). To learn more about the National Council, visit www.TheNationalCouncil.org.

Fostering Futures' vision is that all Wisconsin children and families are thriving in nurturing communities; individuals, communities and government integrate trauma-informed, strength-based principles into their relationships, culture, policies and practices, promoting safe, stable and nurturing relationships.

Contact: Heather Cobb, [email protected], 202.774.1659

SOURCE National Council for Behavioral Health

Related Links

http://www.thenationalcouncil.org