FaCES Happenings

Dr. Griffin and Dr. Forkey addressed the parenting paradox on their new YouTube series “PairADocs.” Dr. Griffin and Dr. Forkey draw from professional and personal experiences. They provide viewers with tools and strategies to support resilience, emotional health and stress management for caregivers and their children.

Dr. Svendsen, Marry Harris LICSW and lead trauma coach Diane Lanni were awarded a grant from the Remillard Family Community Service Fund to address problematic sexualized behavior in children. The grant is awarded to project proposals that work to improve the health of Central Massachusetts residents, that are underrepresented and disadvantaged. Dr. Svendsen and her team plan to provide child health professionals and caregivers with strategies that promote healthy sexual development and healthy relationships. Stay tuned for more updates on this project. You can see the announcement here. 

Trauma Coach Diane Lanni and other authors wrote a resource guide for the NCTSN (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network). This guide provides an overview of the concepts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma, and highlights the gaps that remain in our understanding of the impact of childhood trauma and adversity on mental and physical health. This resource also offers providers, family advocates, and policymakers recommendations for ways in which ACEs and other childhood trauma-related concepts and resources can be combined to advance care for children and families who have experienced trauma. To learn more about ACEs and childhood trauma check this page.

Medical students Caroline Repetti, Madhan Saiprasad, and Kara Banson hosted an online talk with trauma coaches Diane Lanni and Zina Fernandez on mental health crisis and youth mobile crisis intervention (YMCI). They presented their work to a group of foster parents who are also trained trauma coaches. The presentation dispelled common myths about YMCI and provided clear guidelines on when and how to access YMCI. To learn more about YMCI and mental health resources check this page.

Dr. Forkey wrote guidelines for pediatricians for the American Academy of Pediatrics journal on trauma-informed care. These guidelines summarize current, practical advice for rendering trauma-informed care across varied medical settings. To read more click here. 

Dr. Forkey and Dr. Griffin published Childhood Trauma and Resilience with the American Academy of Pediatrics Press. This practical guide provides those who work with children the framework needed to promote resilience and to address childhood trauma. You can find more information on this guidebook here.

Dr. Forkey spoke about trauma informed care with Dr. Berk and Dr. Chiu on the podcast The Cribsiders. In their conversation, Dr. Forkey highlights practical tips that clinicians can use to integrate trauma informed care into their everyday practice. You can listen to the podcast episode here. 

Dr. Griffin and Dr. Forkey discussed the challenges caregivers face during the COVID-19 pandemic on their new YouTube series “PairADocs.” Dr. Griffin and Dr. Forkey draw from professional and personal experiences. They provide viewers with tools and strategies to support resilience, emotional health and stress management for caregivers and their children. You can watch their most recent episode here.

Trauma Coach Diane Lanni spoke with Irene Clements on the National Foster Parent Association’s Coffee with Caregivers. In this segment, Diane and Irene share their experiences of grief and bereavement as foster parents. Diane and her colleagues at The National Traumatic Stress Network developed three parenting resources focused on grief: 1. Impending Death of a Loved One 2. Addressing Fears from Prior Loss 3. Mourning the Death of a Loved One. You can watch a recording of the episode here.

Dr. Forkey spoke with Dr. Hill and Dr. Parga-Belinkie on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ podcast Pediatrics on Call. In this episode, Dr. Forkey discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the children in the foster care system. She addressed how pediatricians can work with foster families to promote safe, stable, and nurturing relationships. You can listen to the podcast episode here.

Dr. Svendsen, Dr. Griffin, and Dr. Forkey published their work on how positive parenting principles support attachment and resilience in the journal Advances in Pediatrics. In their article, the authors introduced a framework of the different components that promote resilience, and what tools caregivers can use to achieve this. Check out the article here.

Dr. Forkey presented virtually on Quality Parenting Initiative’s (QPI) webcast  “COVID-19: The New Normal” series. As a program of The Youth Law Center, QPI calls for excellent parenting for all children in the welfare system. It partners with caregivers and offers workshops and resources. During her presentation, Dr. Forkey provided an overview of what is known about COVID19 and its effects on children. She cited important steps caregivers can take to keep their families safe now and after the pandemic.  She also highlighted how this pandemic may specifically affect the health of kids in foster care, and acknowledged the need to restore safety, routine, and a means for self regulation. To view a recording of Dr. Forkey’s presentation, click here.

The CASA Project of Worcester County honored Suzanne Remington, Judge Capuano, and Dr. Forkey for their dedication to children in welfare at the 2^nd Annual Champions for Children Celebration on March 6, 2020. This celebration brought together volunteers, community partners, friends, staff and sponsors as they reflected on the progress that has been made in the past year. Suzanne Remington who works with the FaCES THREdS team and is a volunteer advocate for CASA received the Volunteer of the Year Award. Judge Capuano who serves as a Juvenile Court Justice received the Honorable Deborah A.S Capuano Champions for Children Award. Dr. Forkey was awarded the Senator Harriette Chandler Award. Members of the FaCES team were present to show their support! 

Dr. Forkey presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in New Orleans, LA. Dr. Forkey gave four presentations that included discussions on 1. how primary care physicians can address trauma in the primary care and clinical setting  2. management of psychotropic medications in children exposed to trauma 3. strategies to promote resilience in at risk families and children 4. how the affiliate response can combat clinician burnout and secondary traumatic stress.

Trauma Coach Diane Lanni presented at the 24th Annual Northern New England Conference on Child Maltreatment in Freeport, Maine. In Diane’s presentation “Stable Parents, Stable Placement,” she provided tips on how to regulate caregivers who are navigating the challenging behaviors of their foster children.