HEARTS gave our teachers knowledge and skills to respond to our students in ways that build relationships and trust. We are always well intended and sometimes lack the know-how to match our intentions with our actions. HEARTS gave us a new lens for seeing our students and what they bring. It matches our philosophy around restorative practices so it doesn’t feel like ‘one more thing’. It has seamlessly integrated with the work we are already doing!

We define resilience as the capacity to grow and thrive, with strength and tenacity, in the face of trauma and oppression for both individuals and communities. We believe that this resilience can be developed and fostered amongst all. We believe Resilient Futures transforms these experiences of trauma into opportunities for resilience and growth.

MISSION

To foster equitable, safe and resilient communities for all youth.

OUR EXPERTISE

Trauma Informed Schools

Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools - HEARTS is a comprehensive, equity focused school-wide system approach to promote success and resilience for trauma-impacted youth.

THE CRISIS

​Experiences of psychological trauma can impede cognitive, social, and emotional development, which can impair youth academic achievement, behavior, interpersonal skills, and general success in school. Implementing a culturally responsive, equity focused trauma-informed approach addresses student learning in the areas of academic, social, emotional, and physical health, and in so doing improves the ability of students to profit from instruction and increases overall wellbeing.

THE SOLUTION

​The goal of the HEARTS (Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools)  is to build on existing structures within the school community to shift the culture from one that asks “What’s wrong with you” to one that asks “What happened to you?”

HEARTS focuses on long-term systemic change by creating school-wide literacy of the impact of trauma on emotional functioning and learning while embedding universal supports that are preventative, collaborative, and intentional for all members of the school community.

HEARTS provides professional development training and intensive consultation with school personnel using a tiered model.  As a result, school personnel are able to more effectively help trauma-exposed students learn and become more successful members of their school communities.

The HEARTS framework was developed in 2008 at University of California San Francisco (UCSF) by Joyce Dorado PhD and Miriam Martinez, PhD.

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Trauma Informed Systems

A trauma informed system recognizes and responds to the impact of traumatic stress with an equity and culturally responsive lens.

Resilient Futures is able to provide a one time or multi-day trainings as requested.

Topics for trainings available include:

  • Caring for the caretaker
  • Promoting resiliency
  • Trauma-informed screening in pediatric settings
  • Emotional regulation (including a focus on mindfulness practice)
  • Creating trauma-informed environments
  • Culturally responsive teaching
  • Anti-bias training
  • Trauma-informed leadership
  • Trauma-informed screening in pediatric settings
  • Personal wellness for first responders
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Specialized Trainings

We provide additional services related to addressing equity, health disparities and facilitating evidence-based programs.

CLINICAL TRAININGS:


Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR)

SFCR is a manualized, trauma-focused, skill-building intervention. It is designed for families living in traumatic contexts with the goal of reducing the symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and other trauma-related disorders in children and adult caregivers. SFCR provides accepted, empirically supported trauma treatment within a family format. Dr. McArthur is a SFCR Champion and a SFCR Trainer and Consultant. More information can be found here: sfcr.umaryland.edu

Grief and Loss

We provide trauma-informed grief and loss consultations to schools, communities and faith-based agencies. Dr. Cahill is a trained Leader in the Stephen Series, a one-on-one lay caring ministry which provides high-quality, confidential, Christian care to people experiencing grief related to death, divorce, job loss, etc.

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

Triple P is a parenting and family support system designed to prevent and treat behavioral and emotional problems in children and teenagers. It aims to prevent problems in the family, school and community before they arise and to create family environments that encourage children to realize their potential. Dr. Cahill is a trained Triple P provider.

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OUR TEAM

Resilient Futures Team

Megan Brennan, PsyD

Megan Brennan, PsyD is a licensed clinical psychologist with extensive experience in the areas of children and adolescent mental health, working in school systems, trauma-informed care, mindfulness, crisis response, cultural competence, supervision, program development and program evaluation. Working to advance systems transformation Megan has partnered with school districts, individual schools, grant funders and community partners with a focus on advancing trauma-informed, culturally responsive school communities.

Eleonora Cahill, PhD

Eleonora Cahill, PhD (Ellie) has worked with trauma-impacted families and communities for 25 years, first as a teacher, then as Director of a non-profit, and finally as a mental health clinician. Ellie passionately believes in the resiliency of the human spirit, the tenacity of community, and the unsurpassed capacity for healing. Ellie holds a strong anti-oppression lens and is committed to addressing race-based and cultural disparities. She has expertise in traumatic stress, grief and loss, family systems, adolescence, special education, curriculum development and integrated behavioral health.

Laura McArthur, PhD

Laura McArthur, PhD, brings substantive experience in the areas of children’s mental health, trauma-informed care and school practices, elimination of disparities in behavioral health, cultural and linguistic competence, developmental psychology and program evaluation. Laura has worked with numerous schools, funders, community partners, and community members to advance trauma-informed, culturally responsive environments that meet the needs of schools and communities impacted by trauma.

CONTACT US

Please contact us for more about the extensive services we offer.

(720) 499-1075


OUR PARTNERS

Cherry Creek Schools
The Denver Foundation
H.E.A.R.T.S.