ReCAST Toolbox

Resilience Tools Today

Resilience Tools Today is a workshop based on the Reconnect for Resilience™ Community Connection curriculum. This 4-hour interactive virtual workshop provides resilience tools and resources that participants may utilize to address trauma, toxic stress, and anxiety that leads to dysregulation in everyday life. Participants will leave with self-regulation tools, knowledge about how to bring negative emotions back into balance, and an awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This is a safe space to help participants practice nervous system stabilization tools to use as parents, caregivers, and community leaders.

Reconnect for Resilience™

Reconnect for Resilience™ offers participants a set of practical strategies to promote wellbeing in the face of ongoing stress or adversity. Our simple, easy to understand tools are designed to support people of any age, education, or background. In this class, participants learn about the neuroscience of stress and trauma, and are given an “owner’s manual to the body’s threat and safety management system.”

Developed as a response to the public health crisis of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences), Reconnect for Resilience™ teaches participants simple tools for self-regulation and co-regulation, and supports social emotional learning for all ages. Through demonstrations and group practice, participants learn to apply resiliency tools to: Reconnect with their body’s natural capacity to reset the nervous system after it has been thrown out of balance by stress and trauma; Reconnect with their ability to reduce shame through self-compassion; and Reconnect with their family and community with a clear mind and balanced nervous system.

Resiliency Educator Apprenticeship Program (REAP)

The Resources for Resilience™ (RFR) Resiliency Educator Apprenticeship Program (REAP) offers participants an opportunity to have their own team or community members trained as Resiliency Educators (REs). This apprenticeship program is designed both for those who serve individuals and communities affected by trauma, and those affected directly by trauma. The goal in training community members is to build capacity among non-traditional leaders who have been impacted by trauma and who can, in turn, become healers for their community or generation. This curriculum offers tools for well-being and does not require REs to be mental health professionals.

After attending a two-day Reconnect for Resilience™ (Reconnect) training, RE candidates begin their apprenticeship by attending a four-day REAP training wherein they review the elements of the Reconnect curriculum, practice teaching it to other participants, and practice presenting it to community members in the field. Following their four-day REAP training, RE candidates receive six months of mentoring from one of RFR’s senior trainers. This portion of their apprenticeship includes an additional four virtual discussion groups led by an RFR senior trainer, ongoing email contact and troubleshooting support, and opportunities to shadow at Reconnect trainings and receive supervision as they practice teaching in the community. In addition, senior trainers will offer an additional day of face-to-face support in the candidates’ locality.

Compassion Fatigue Seminars

Facilitated by National Council for Behavioral Health, ReCAST Mecklenburg offers Compassion Fatigue Seminars geared towards public health and social service providers. Effectively providing trauma-informed care to youth and families begins within the organization. Better service can be achieved when organizations actively embrace wellness and encourage work-life balance amongst all staff.

What happens when our passions start to make us feel tired, disengaged or cynical?  As caregivers we give of ourselves every day, but what are we doing to make sure we’re replenishing our souls?  If we don’t address compassion fatigue it can negatively impact performance and outcomes. Are you looking for ways to manage feelings of being overwhelmed or to help your staff manage the barrage of ongoing trauma so they can do their work? If this resonates with you or your workforce, join our training. The National Council expert trauma-informed faculty will explore compassion fatigue and how to create a culture of wellness and trauma-informed care. Examining the tough questions: What does a culture of wellness and trauma-informed care look like? What hard conversations are necessary when focusing on workforce development? What real strategies advance wellness and trauma-informed care with your staff?  Seize this chance to energize yourself, strengthen your work and equip your workforce for the complex and fulfilling work ahead.

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is a course that teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The training helps you identify, understand and respond to signs of addictions and mental illnesses. Participants who complete training receive certification.

Trauma-Informed Learning Community

The Trauma-Informed Learning Community provides community organizations an opportunity to join a growing coalition of advocates for trauma-informed leadership. This year-long commitment includes personalized mentorship, leadership tools, and resources to support organizational change. 

The Trauma-Informed Learning Community will support the skills needed to:

  • Implement trauma-informed approaches throughout your organization
  • Improve intake, screening, and assessment for trauma and resilience
  • Adopt trauma-informed, resilience oriented best practices for your clients
  • Build resilience to prevent toxic stress and compassion fatigue
  • Make your organization a safe and healing environment

Trauma-Informed Learning Community Participants

Cohort 1:

  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
  • Mental Health America of Central Carolinas
  • National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) – Charlotte
  • Novant Health
  • Pat’s Place Child Advocacy Center
  • Promise Resource Network
  • Teen Health Connection

Cohort 2:

  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
  • Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services
  • Mental Health America of Central Carolinas
  • National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) – Charlotte
  • Mecklenburg County Public Health – Maternal Child Health
  • Mecklenburg County Public Health – Care Management for High Risk Pregnancies
  • Center for Prevention Services – Alianza
  • My Brother’s Keeper Charlotte-Mecklenburg

To apply to the 2022-2023 Trauma-Informed Learning Community, click here.

Trauma-Informed Webinar Series

Managing Anxiety and Worry: On the Front Lines of a Crisis (extended version) 

  • General concerns and anxieties can be difficult to manage during the best of situations, but what happens during an international pandemic? This online module will provide a brief overview of how anxiety can impact general functioning and functioning in crisis. This online module will offer different strategies that can be used to decrease the impact of anxiety during this unprecedented time in the country and personally.
  • This online module is for individuals or groups, especially those who engage in direct service provision for youth and families in Mecklenburg County. (Employees/Staff within education, Healthcare, Faith communities, Non-profit – especially youth-serving organizations, Government, Justice, and MOU partners of Mecklenburg County ReCAST).

On the Frontline: How to Manage Anxiety and Worry During a Crisis  

  • General concerns and anxieties can be difficult to manage during the best of situations, but what happens when you are trying to manage during an international pandemic and a national epidemic? This webinar will provide a brief overview how anxiety can impact our general functioning, our functioning in crisis and different strategies you can use to decrease the impact of anxiety on you during this unprecedented time in our country and lives.
  • This event is for individuals or groups, especially those who engage in direct service provision for youth and families in Mecklenburg County. (Employees/Staff within education, Healthcare, Faith communities, Non-profit – especially youth-serving organizations, Government, Justice, and MOU partners of Mecklenburg County ReCAST).

On the Frontline: Promoting Self-Care Practices and Psychological Well-Being During a Crisis 

  • How do we ensure that we manage through our current crises in a way that promotes growth? We recognize our country is in the middle of an international pandemic and crisis, yet we are continuing to try and function daily at work, school and within our families. In this webinar we will review what we know about managing in crisis and what you can do now to ensure post-traumatic growth at the end of this time of crisis as opposed to burnout.
  • This event is for individuals or groups, especially those who engage in direct service provision for youth and families in Mecklenburg County. (Employees/Staff within education, Healthcare, Faith communities, Non-profit – especially youth-serving organizations, Government, Justice, and MOU partners of Mecklenburg County ReCAST).

Self-Care and Regulation Strategies During Times of Crisis 

  • In times of crisis, compassion fatigue and burnout seem to quadruple. The extra stress that comes with crisis situations, like COVID-19, is compounded by fears and feelings of unsafety which lead to dysregulation. This online module will discuss the impact that crisis has on the brain and provide strategies for self-regulation as part of building compassion resilience as public health work continues.
  • This online module is for employees/staff within the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department. Participants must have a code to register for this webinar. If you are an employee/staff within the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department and have not received the code, please contact Cortney Fowler (Cortney.Fowler@atriumhealth.org).

Managing Anxiety and Worry: On the Front Lines of a Crisis 

  • General concerns and anxieties can be difficult to manage during the best of situations, but what happens during an international pandemic? This online module will provide a brief overview of how anxiety can impact general functioning and functioning in crisis. This online module will offer different strategies that can be used to decrease the impact of anxiety during this unprecedented time in the country and personally.
  • This online module is for employees/staff within the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department. Participants must have a code to register for this webinar. If you are an employee/staff within the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department and have not received the code, please contact Cortney Fowler (Cortney.Fowler@atriumhealth.org).

Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Oriented Considerations Upon Return to the Office 

  • Demonstrating a commitment to a physically and emotionally safe work environment is essential as we return to the office. For many organizations, returning to work may take many months and meeting employee expectations for a pre-COVID-19 work life may be challenging. That means there are now likely to be gaps in infrastructure and support to help employees thrive in the “new normal”. This session will provide trauma-informed, resilience-oriented considerations and strategies to develop a clear reentry plan and create a “new normal”.
  • This event is for employees/staff within the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department. Participants must have a code to register for this webinar. If you are an employee/staff within the Mecklenburg County Public Health Department and have not received the code, please contact Cortney Fowler (Cortney.Fowler@atriumhealth.org). 

Trauma Summit

This 2-day training introduces specific trauma-informed approaches for faith-based, justice, healthcare, education, government, and non-profit organizations, especially youth-serving organizations including adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and the neuroscience of stress and trauma. Participants will leave the training with tools needed to bring trauma-informed practices to their workplaces. The intensive delivered by the National Council for Behavioral Health includes a train-the trainer focus and an option for inclusion in a year-long learning community.