Compassionate Champions ceremony to be held May 17

 

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney on Friday previewed the events occurring in May 2023 during the 5th Annual Trauma Awareness Month in the State of Delaware, hosted by the Family Services Cabinet Council (FSCC) and Trauma Matters Delaware (TMD).

 

In 2018, Governor Carney issued Executive Order 24 prioritizing efforts for Delaware to become a trauma informed state and incorporating Trauma Awareness Month as a key initiative.

 

“Trauma Awareness Month is an opportunity for all of us to engage with our community and learn how to prevent and interrupt cycles of trauma, especially for our children,” said Governor Carney. “A lot has changed since we first recognized Trauma Awareness Month in 2018 and we are grateful to recognize Trauma Awareness Month in Delaware for the fifth year, this year. We thank Trauma Matters Delaware and the many organizations, state agencies, and individuals who are working hard to make Delaware a more trauma-informed state.”

 

“With this kind of work, which has generational as well as short-term goals, it can be easy to focus on how far there is to go. But on this fifth anniversary of Trauma Awareness Month, it’s also worth remembering how far we’ve come, thanks to so many partners working together in our state,” said First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney. “It’s an inspiring, collaborative, and essential fight for the future.”

 

The FSCC and TMD are highlighting a variety of events throughout May, including webinars, movie screenings, and a theme night at a Wilmington Blue Rocks game. Events begin April 25 and run throughout the month of May. A few events include:

 

• April 28, 2023 –Trauma Awareness theme night at the Wilmington Blue Rocks – 5:35 p.m.
• April 29, 2023– Conference on Moving From Trauma-Aware to Trauma Informed – 9 a.m. at Delaware State University’s MLK Student Center
• May 6, 2023– Film screening of Mister Rogers & Me –  Additional information will be shared on the TMD event calendar
• May 10, 2023– Conversation on “Gun Violence 101” – Online webinar
• May 17, 2023 – Compassionate Champions Award Presentation – Wilmington University’s Dover Campus

 

The purpose of the Compassionate Champion Award is to recognize outstanding achievement by both individuals and organizations in providing trauma-informed services. Awardees will be recognized from government, community organizations, first responders, education, health care, and other organizations. This year will include the inaugural First Chance award which will go to an outstanding youth from Delaware.

 

The FSCC and TMD encourage Delaware community organizations to add their own Trauma Awareness Month events to the TMD event calendar. To have events published on TMD’s Trauma Awareness Month calendar, please complete this form.

 

“We are excited for the fifth-annual Trauma Awareness Month to kick off. This year will include virtual and in-person events, and most importantly, a platform for information-sharing about trauma awareness,” said Erin Mitchell, Executive Director of Trauma Matters Delaware. “After living through a global pandemic, we know mental health is at the front of people’s minds. At Trauma Matters Delaware, our vision is that all people can feel safe, grow beyond adversity and thrive.”

 

For more information about Trauma Awareness Month events and registration, visit traumamattersdelaware.org/trauma-awareness-month.

 

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Award Ceremony to be Held June 14

Subtítulos en español.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney on Tuesday announced the 2022 Compassionate Champion Awardees. The Compassionate Champion Awards recognize individuals, organizations, and educational institutions across the State of Delaware that provide trauma-informed services in a manner consistent with the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma-Informed Care.  

“From students to families to workers, we’ve all been impacted by the pandemic in some way, and we must continue to address the impact of this trauma,” said Governor Carney. “That’s why we are recognizing the important work of those who continue to serve their neighbors through a trauma-informed approach so that we can continue to heal. I am impressed by all of the applicants and congratulations to the awardees for their incredible work taking place across the First State.”

The Compassionate Champion Award highlights individuals or teams in government, non-profit and private organizations, first responder professions, educational institutions, healthcare professionals, and other agencies that have taken steps toward providing services in a manner consistent with trauma-informed care. 

The 2022 awardees include:

• Government – Dr. Teri Lawler of the Delaware Department of Education for Project Thrive
• Community Organizations – Arreon Harley-Emerson for the Choir School of Delaware
• First Responders – Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit
• Education (P-20) – Capital School District
• Health Care – Beebe Healthcare’s Trauma-Informed Committee led by Dr. David Tam
• Health Care (Individual) – Natasha Mullen of Milestones Consultants

In 2018, the Family Services Cabinet Council implemented Executive Order #24, which launched efforts to make Delaware a trauma-informed state. As part of this initiative, Delaware is committed to ensuring all environments that serve children and adults in the state are working to embody practices of trauma-informed care. 

Based on the Delaware Developmental Framework for Trauma-Informed Care, trauma-informed care includes:

• Creating respectful, sensitive, and culturally competent environments;
• Implementing evidence-based trauma-informed principles and practices that address the effects associated with trauma;
• Developing a common language and framework for dialogue and discussion to enhance communication and progress along the continuum of trauma-informed care; and
• Increasing the effectiveness and responsiveness of all services and assistance provided to Delawareans, especially children and adults who have experienced traumatic circumstances.

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