Building Resilience in our Communities

Enhancing regional quality of life through collective impact and resiliency training for mental health and trauma

Full Project Name:Building Resilience in our CommunitiesPrimary Community Organization:Great Rivers United WayAward Amount:$250,000

Award Date

July2024

Project Duration:24 months

Project Summary:

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) significantly impact health and well-being. ACEs, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are linked to higher risks of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, substance abuse, and interpersonal violence later in life.

Working with community health workers and focusing on trauma-informed care and resilience-building strategies, this project will aim to mitigate these adverse effects of ACEs, promote healing, and improve overall health outcomes in western Wisconsin's rural communities.

Partners: La Crosse County Health Science Consortium, Great Rivers United Way-Better Together, Great Rivers United Way-Great Rivers HUB

Project Updates:

Delivered RTIC trainings in Monroe, Jackson, and La Crosse counties via collaborations with community organizations such as Tomah Health, Boys & Girls Club of Monroe County, Black River Falls Public Library, and the Health Science Center with 30-40 frontline staff attending each session
Completed 169 ACEs screenings with enrolled participants, of which 138 individuals received all required ACEs education modules
Incorporated direct participant feedback into subsequent RTIC curriculum iterations to allow for more flexible training methods
Redesigned RTIC website to improve access to training materials, tools, and resources for communities and organizations
Completed qualitative interviews and preparing for dissemination of initial findings to stakeholders and professional audiences