There have been extensive writings provided to us regarding what ACEs is and its effect upon our mental health and physical health. The original ACEs study may be one of the most important research projects of our time. It has been a way to better understand some of the specific effects of how toxic stress has great potential to be like the thief that comes in the night and steals some of the most precious aspects of our life. One of those aspects that gets less attention is how it creates challenges and barriers to creating healthy relationships. We all want to be loved and love others while being understood. Many believe that is at the heart of human nature. However, ACEs has great potential to derail this in our lives.

There is a plethora of negative, unhealthy thoughts that many individuals carry around as a result of their adverse childhood experiences. Thoughts such as, "I don't deserve love", "I'm broken", feelings of guilt and shame, unable to accept simple affirmations of the good in them, and unable to trust anyone. Healthy relationships matter in everybody's life and it is everyone's right to have them even if a thief attempts to steal them from you forever. Remember, ACEs is not the determiner of the quality of our lives. Find out more about how three concepts can help trauma survivors move forward to healthier relationships. Click here.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), an annual observance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created promotional and educational resources for every audience, including  pregnant women, young children, adolescents and adults. 

 

The purpose of NIAM is to increase awareness about the important role vaccines play in preventing serious, sometimes deadly, diseases across the lifespan and  to remind your patients about the benefits of immunization. Show your support and spread the word about the importance of vaccines for people of all ages.

 

Suggested themes for August 2018: 

Tools for Back to School:

The National Public Health Information coalition has developed a toolkit to promote back-to-school vaccinations. Click here to access the toolkit.

 

Other useful links include:

You can find training presentations and additional resources, such as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and MLMS Quick Reference Guides here.

Note: As a result of the Certified Application Counselor Designated Organization (CDO) Refresh[1], all CDOs assisting consumers for Plan Year 2019 will be assigned a new organizational designation ID. CDOs have been instructed to discontinue use of their old CDO IDs and use their newly issued CDO ID for official purposes moving forward (to generate and issue CAC IDs, take the annual certification training, and enter on the Marketplace Application when assisting consumers).

CACs should wait to take the 2019 CAC training until they have been issued their new CAC ID number by their organization. CACs should enter their new CAC ID number as the username on the MLMS training registration page. CACs in good standing may continue to assist consumers while awaiting their new CAC ID number.

Registration is now open for the West Virginia State Medical Association's Appalachian Addiction & Prescription Drug Abuse Conference. This three-day event will be held October 18-20 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston. Registration is available here. 

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) New Site Application will close on August 14, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. ET. To submit your application, create a BHW Customer Service Portal account or login using your existing one to complete your application today!

Now Eligible to Apply : Outpatient substance use disorder treatment facilities.* If your site provides any of these services:

If your site is approved, clinicians will be eligible to apply for the NHSC Loan Repayment Program or the new NHSC Loan Repayment Program Opioid and SUD Expansion, which supports clinicians who use evidence-based treatment models to treat substance use disorders. This includes those who possess a DATA 2000 Waiver, serve in an opioid treatment program, or are certified in substance use disorder interventions, such as Master's - level substance use counselors.

Helpful Resources:

HRSA's Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program has released its national program brief and state fact sheets. 

The MIECHV Program supports voluntary, evidence-based home visiting services for at-risk pregnant women and parents with young children up to kindergarten entry. 

Home visiting helps prevent child abuse and neglect, supports positive parenting, improves maternal and child health, and promotes child development and school readiness. 

The program brief includes an overview of MIECHV Program administration, research and evaluation and FY 2017 participant and performance measurement data. The state fact sheets highlight how the MIECHV Program is helping at-risk families in U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia, including home visits made, parents, children and communities served, and evidence-based models used.