Resilience Empowerment Project

Building knowledge, strategies and tools for thriving educators, families and children

Arizona is in the midst of a trauma crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood trauma has now reached the level of a public health crisis. What’s more, Arizona ranks highest in the nation for victims who have experienced two or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). To make matters worse, certain population cohorts are two and three times more likely to have multiple ACEs in their background; this includes people who live on Native American reservations, women of color, people with disabilities, children in mixed immigration status families, and people who have had contact with the foster care system. In other words, data tells us that many Arizona communities – many Arizona children and families – are in crisis even as they go about their daily lives in our public schools, in our communities and in our healthcare systems.

The Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium (AZACEs) is partnered with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to deliver a unique professional development program designed for Maricopa County schools to equip educators and other school staff with tools to better address the unique needs of students, families and educators alike.

Female students with teacher

Resilience Empowerment Project

Building knowledge, strategies and tools for thriving educators, families and children

Arizona is in the midst of a trauma crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood trauma has now reached the level of a public health crisis. What’s more, Arizona ranks highest in the nation for victims who have experienced two or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). To make matters worse, certain population cohorts are two and three times more likely to have multiple ACEs in their background; this includes people who live on Native American reservations, women of color, people with disabilities, children in mixed immigration status families, and people who have had contact with the foster care system.1 In other words, data tells us that many Arizona communities – many Arizona children and families – are in crisis even as they go about their daily lives in our public schools, in our communities and in our healthcare systems.

The Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium (AZACEs) is partnered with the Maricopa County Department of Public Health to deliver a unique professional development program designed for Maricopa County schools to equip educators and other school staff with tools to better address the unique needs of students, families and educators alike.

Female students with teacher

The 2024-25 academic year is currently full.

Program Options

Administrator’s Program

For School Administrators and Board leadership: 1 session; 1.5 hours total

*may be done alone however is required with staff level training options

 

Staff Program Year 1

For Educators & Staff with no previous training in ACEs & Resiliency: minimum 5 sessions; 12 hours total

Staff Program Year 2

For Educators & Staff who completed Year 1: minimum 3 sessions; 8 hours total

Staff Program Year 3

For educators & Staff who completed Year 1 and Year 2: minimum 2 sessions; 4 hours total

Student Leaders Program

For student leaders with school & parental approval: 3 sessions; 3 hours total

*may be added on with other training options

$2K per year for district & school ambassadors
$30 per hour for district and school staff

In-person training sessions will be held at school sites or virtually online, as requested by school leadership. All sessions are interactive and led by both a certified ACEs trainer and a Master’s-level Social Worker (MSW). Training curricula are designed by Arizona-based social workers, counselors, therapists and health professionals who understand the demographics, cultures and communities our schools represent. 

For 2022 and 2023, this training program is free of cost to participating schools, thanks to funding from the Maricopa County Department of Public Health. All participating school staff participating will be compensated at $30 per hour. This is meant to ensure precious school funds need not be spent while also encouraging schools to include as many of their teachers and staff as possible because our children interact with many different roles throughout their school day, from crossing guards to classroom aides to bus drivers – every adult has a role to play in ensuring the learning environment is safe, healthy and supportive. 

In order to facilitate continued growth among District and school staff, AZACEs is also establishing an Ambassador program where a designee from each site will receive additional support from AZACEs to maintain and develop their school’s expertise and practices, ensuring students for years to come are receiving the benefits of a trauma-sensitive environment. Ambassadors will remain in contact with AZACEs and utilize our resources to deepen their expertise in trauma-informed teaching practices to continue mentoring  colleagues. Ambassadors will be compensated with quarterly stipends totalling $2,000 per year.

The process for compensating training participants and designated ambassadors is simple so as to not burden school staff or administration. Funding for school staff compensation is made possible by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Male teacher with students

Becoming trauma-informed is a benefit to the larger community, because we are all in this together. We want teachers to feel supported and empowered so that they can give students their best and be healthy and happy themselves. In a recent survey of Arizona teachers, the vast majority said they are overwhelmed and don’t feel adequately supported. That can lead to our schools and our children losing wonderful educators. With more knowledge, support and tools in their toolkit, students, families and staff will all benefit.

$30 per hour for district and school staff

AZACEs has designed varied entrypoint training and continuous education programs for Maricopa County public schools and districts focused on educating school leadership, teachers and school staff on fostering cultural and pedagogical change. The program suite offers a tiered set of trainings with differing levels of support and varied delivery methods in order to best meet each participating district and school where they currently are on the trauma awareness continuum, their availability for professional development, and their evolving capacities.

 

$2K per year for district & school ambassadors

Becoming trauma-informed is a benefit to the larger community, because we are all in this together. We want teachers to feel supported and empowered so that they can give students their best and be healthy and happy themselves. In a recent survey of Arizona teachers, the vast majority said they are overwhelmed and don’t feel adequately supported. That can lead to our schools and our children losing wonderful educators. With more knowledge, support and tools in their toolkit, students, families and staff will all benefit.

AZACEs has designed varied entry point training and continuous education programs for Maricopa County public schools and districts focused on educating school leadership, teachers and school staff on fostering cultural and pedagogical change. The program suite offers a tiered set of trainings with differing levels of support and varied delivery methods in order to best meet each participating district and school where they currently are on the trauma awareness continuum, their availability for professional development, and their evolving capacities.