Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
August 24, 2007, Vol. 07-129

Webcast: SAMHSA Homeless Resource Center: Involving Homeless Youth in Program Planning

August 30, 2007 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm EST
August 30, 2007 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST

Register Here https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/969093552

Homelessness and Traumatic Stress

Homelessness is highly stressful. It leaves people feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed, and helpless. For most, the stress of being homeless is compounded by past traumatic experiences, such as catastrophic illness, violence, combat, abrupt separations, and physical and sexual abuse.

To develop responsive services and programs, facilitate recovery and promote housing stability you must understand the impact of traumatic stress.

Features

Leading the Way: Pioneering a Future without Violence
"When I speak my truth today, I feel strong ... but it wasn't always that way." Today Laurie Ahern, Associate Director of Mental Disability Rights International, describes herself as "a mom and a survivor, not a victim." While she still doesn't like airplanes, there isn't anywhere in the world she would not go to spread the word that recovery is possible....for everyone.

Developing Community Capacity to Respond to Trauma
"Clarksdale, Mississippi is an economically depressed area. We're at the top of every disparity list you can find," explains Lela Keys. HRC's Katie Volk learns more about Ms. Keys' experiences developing community capacity to respond to trauma in this challenging environment.

Avoiding Retraumatization and Fostering Recovery Among People Experiencing Homelessness
What does it mean to approach people in a way that is trauma-informed? It means approaching them in a way that honors their strengths as well as vulnerabilities. HRC's Laura Prescott looks deeper into promising practices related to trauma.

Helping Children Cope With the Stress of Homelessness
Homelessness takes a toll on children. They are sick more often and have more mental health problems. PEACH, an innovative program created by the National Center on Family Homelessness, teaches children about good nutrition, physical activity, and how to deal with the stress of being homeless.

*************************************************
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this list, please visit the Consumer Survivor page of the Center for Mental Health Services Web site at: http://samhsa.gov/consumersurvivor/

The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.