Childhood Well-Being: Trauma & Resilience – From Symptoms to Systems Change

In New Mexico, our children and families undoubtedly have the odds stacked against them – we see this in the data that shows our state has the highest rate of child poverty and of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). And yet, our communities are also full of resourcefulness, resilience, and connections. Families, service providers, advocates, and policymakers are coming together in towns, countries, and statewide to creatively problem solve, to do things differently, to apply what we already know will work. NM Voices for Children and partners will host the second annual Northern New Mexico KIDS COUNT conference entitled: Childhood Well-Being: Trauma & Resilience – From Symptoms to Systems Change.

This event aims to bring together those committed to making opportunities for children more abundant, lasting, and meaningful. We won’t ignore the data or the very real suffering being faced by families. We will offer a space to learn and speak about the challenges we’re facing, to exchange solutions and stories, and to meet with and hear from change-makers in the state, including policymakers, activists, and front liners. A sobering yet hopeful, strengths-based gathering towards truly preventing and disrupting cycles of harm to our children and families in New Mexico. The event aims to increase our collective knowledge and ability to address both the symptoms of trauma in and lack of well-being for children, AND the systems that enable such cycles of harm to continue. It aims to profile resilience and resolution by hosting speakers and learning sessions presented by community leaders, decision-makers, and service providers, leveraging northern NM’s unique strengths and assets as we seek to create more resilient communities statewide.

Keynote Speakers include:

Marilyn Bruguier Zimmerman, MSW, Ph.D

Co-Principal Investigator & Senior Director of Policy & Programs

National Native Children’s Trauma Center (NNCTC)

Brian Blalock

Cabinet Secretary

Children, Youth & Families Department of New Mexico

More expert speakers from the New Mexico community to be announced soon, along with a diverse set of presenters from across New Mexico leading efforts to improve child well-being who will offer 10 breakout learning sessions for practitioners and advocates to gain new skills, build networks, develop a deeper understanding of childhood trauma and resilience, and increase capacity to advocate for policy and systems change at the state, regional, and local levels.

The morning plenary will begin in the Jemez rooms: https://www.sfcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Map-w_rooms-working.pdf

Buy a VENDOR TABLE!!

Share about your organization’s work and impact by tabling at the conference for only $50. To reserve a table, reach out to bmike@nmvoices.

Be a PRESENTER!!

NM Voices for Children is inviting proposals for consideration at the Second Annual Northern New Mexico Kids Count Conference, to be held on November 5th, 2019 at the Santa Fe Community College. The theme will center on, but not be limited to, Childhood Well-Being: Trauma & Resilience – From Symptoms to Systems Change. Sessions will be selected based on the quality and quantity of proposals we receive and are able to accommodate that align with the theme and goals of the event. Deadline for proposal submissions is October 11, 2019. Selected proposals will receive an honorarium of $100/session.