The Power of Prevention and Community Connection

Fifty years ago, FamilyWise began as a parenting program for mothers involved in the corrections system. While providing supportive programs to system-involved families continues to be central to our mission, over the years, we have intentionally grown and advocated for upstream prevention efforts that keep families healthy, safe, and strong.  

Since 2006, FamilyWise has been the home of Bright Beginnings, a program that helps two generations at once by building the knowledge, skills, and stability of young parents so that they can achieve their goals for their family; in 2020, FamilyWise merged with Minnesota Communities Caring for Children, a statewide leader in child abuse prevention through parent leadership development, Circle of Parents support groups, and presentations and training on NEAR* science research. Through these programs, our advocacy partnerships, and more, FamilyWise is creating supportive communities for families.   

This month FamilyWise hosted our 9th annual Growing Resilient Communities gathering. This event brings together changemakers dedicated to addressing the root causes of childhood adversity and building communities that strengthen families. This year’s event explored how each of us can cultivate solidarity and connection in our communities, because we know that collaboration and mutual support are vital during times of uncertainty and resource scarcity like we are experiencing today. A few key takeaways from the event include: 

• To provide support, especially during times of crisis, it’s important for organizations to adapt their approaches to better meet the needs of those they are serving. Agencies need to let communities define their approach, not the other way around. This might look like integrating cultural practices into case management or adapting the language and accessibility of resources. As Maria Hernandez from the Refugee and Immigrant Call Center at the Minnesota Department of Human Services put it, “if we’re using the same language from 10 years ago, that language is not the same as what we need right now.”
• A holistic approach is crucial because the cumulative impacts of community violence, racism, and resource instability affect the wellbeing of everyone in the community. As Dr. Maegan Rides at the Door from the National Native Children’s Trauma Center says, “it takes whole communities to be able to think about a comprehensive community wide healing, as opposed to just individual healing.” By intersecting culturally specific care with other methods of combatting toxic stress, such as access to resources, community connection, and destigmatization of trauma, we can create methods for positive intergenerational change.
• Relationships are key to resilience. While childhood adversity can lead to negative long-term health and social outcomes, we can combat negative outcomes by supporting resilience – “the power to adapt, the strength to thrive, the ability to bounce back and adapt and grow in the face of adversity, trauma, or stress,” shared Dr. Roy Wade Jr., a leading researcher on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the Division of General Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. One important way to build resilience is by growing supportive community relationships and providing mentorship for young people. By using a culturally responsive approach, we can tap into the wisdom already within the communities, because “they already possess the cultural strengths, wisdom, and healing traditions that can promote resilience.”
• Just as healing and resilience happen in relationships, so does social change. Sessions throughout the day highlighted the importance of collective action. In her closing, Karina Forrest-Perkins, President and CEO of Volunteers of America of Minnesota and Wisconsin, encouraged statewide changemakers to keep showing up as advocates for prevention, and to keep coming together to support one another on that journey. She said, “There’s nothing like relationships, that’s where the magic is.” 

As the home of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, FamilyWise is committed to bringing people together to lift up the wisdom of families and communities and to create communities where children and families can thrive. We hope that you’ll join us next year for a very special 10th annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering!  

Read more about the Gathering and find session recordings here.

Thank you to our funders, the Minnesota Department of Human Services and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, who contributed support for FamilyWise Services and Peacemaker Resources to facilitate and coordinate the 9th Annual Growing Resilient Communities Gathering.