Public Awareness
CONNECTIONS MATTER
Public Awareness Campaign
This year marked the launch of our #BeAConnection campaign designed to promote the building of resilient, compassionate, and trauma-informed communities to prevent child maltreatment. Connections Matter is a community-based initiative that explores how the connections we make in life profoundly impact the brain’s ability to grow and our own individual abilities to cope and thrive. Communities built on caring relationships have less crime, violence, substance abuse and homelessness; better school success; and better physical and mental health for everyone.
Connections Matter Trainings
Connections Matter trainings share information on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, brain development and resilience. The training addresses how these topics intersect with one another and how to apply these concepts within a community with the goal of strengthening families and community supports so that children can grow up healthy and safe.
The #BeAConnection call-to-action, featured on billboards, radio ads, and social media platforms throughout North Carolina, was viewed more than 48 million times!
The videos were very helpful in understanding the concepts in the training.
Information was direct and to the point.
The facilitators were very engaging and knowledgeable.
Connections Matter Faith
Tracey O’Neal, Faith-Based Partnership Engagement Manager
Connections Matters Faith is designed to help congregations build Protective Factors in their congregations and communities to keep children safe and healthy with strong community and family supports. Pilot congregations have screened Resilience, been trained as Connections Matter trainers, and changed policies to support safe, stable and nurturing environments for children.
A group of Connections Matter Faith trainers celebrate the completion of their training course at Solid Rock United Methodist Church in Cameron, North Carolina (Harnett County).
RESILIENCE SCREENINGS
We continued to screen the documentary, Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope, to raise awareness about the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and move the conversation upstream to prioritize prevention in North Carolina.
In November, Governor Cooper formally announced the dedication of ACEs Awareness Week—a statewide initiative to build awareness of childhood trauma, prevention, and resilience. In partnership with UNC-TV, we hosted a statewide broadcast of Resilience. Following the broadcast, viewers participated in a Twitter Town Hall featuring local and national experts in childhood trauma, toxic stress, trauma prevention and resilience building. The participation on Twitter was overwhelming!
It is indeed a pleasure to return to North Carolina with Resilience and support the important work of state organizations in trauma prevention and building ACEs awareness and healthy, trauma-informed and resilient communities.
TRAINING
PCANC provides several professional development opportunities throughout the year, including our Protective Factors training that focuses on building protective factors that promote healthy growth and development of all children. We also offer free online courses, including the introductory course What is Prevention, and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment, which offers guidance for when you suspect a child’s well-being is or may be at risk.
88% of Protective Factors training participants reported an increase in knowledge of the protective factors.
93% of training participants reported an increase in understanding of the strategies that can address the protective factors.
The trainer was very kind and knowledgeable. The activities we did were also very helpful.
Really loved the opportunity to build connections with other attendees!
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
April is Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Month, and while this year looked a lot different due to COVID-19, we were still able to creatively raise awareness of effective child maltreatment prevention strategies and empower North Carolinians to play a role in making great childhoods happen by hosting Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina’s (PCANC) first all-virtual CAP Month. We launched the #BeAConnection social media challenge, hosted NC’s annual Wear Blue Day, and published a month-long video series highlighting the Protective Factors, our partners’ work in local communities, and our statewide work to prevent child maltreatment upstream. PCANC also supported Prevent Child Abuse America’s virtual activities including a new, digital pinwheel garden and fundraising platform, virtual Town Hall discussions, a National Digital Advocacy Day, and a national singalong.
