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RAISE

The RAISE mission is to build a more trauma-informed and resilient Alexandria by informing, supporting and elevating our community.
*Please note: RAISE does not provide direct services to clients
Page updated on July 25, 2024 at 2:12 PM

Children & Family Services

  • Department of Community & Human Services
  • FAQs Child Care
    • Child-care Providers
  • Child Welfare Programs
    • Child Abuse and Neglect
    • Child Abuse Prevention Training
    • Fund for Alexandria’s Child
  • Behavioral Health Services
  • RAISE Trauma Informed Network
  • Early Childhood Wellness Program
  • Parent Infant Education Program
  • Youth Development
    • Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy
    • Project Discovery College Prep
    • Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria
  • Release of Information Forms

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RAISE: Alexandria's Trauma Informed Community Network

RAISE logo

About Trauma-Informed Community Networks (TICNs)

About Trauma-Informed Community Networks (TICNs)

Definition of Resilience

Throughout Virginia, there are more than 19 communities coming together across disciplines around trauma-informed care. Most often in Virginia, these groups form as trauma-informed community networks (TICNs). Every TICN looks different because they are built by the local community, however, in each of these communities, these networks share common characteristics:

  • Build a stronger, more resilient trauma-informed community
  • Increase awareness of trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and identify areas that the group can collectively build upon
  • Develop a shared language about trauma and resilience
  • Help organizations to become trauma informed, conduct trainings, support, and implement new practices in schools, courts, and community services
  • Create a mechanism for collaboration, and the sharing of information and resources
  • And much more!

It should be noted that these networks, including RAISE, do not provide direct services to clients. Instead, TICNs help to connect practice across disciplines and help to identify gaps and how policies can be implemented. Virginia’s community networks play a key role in advancing trauma-informed policy and promoting a statewide policy agenda. 

For more information about Virginia’s TICNs and the Campaign for a Trauma-Informed Virginia, visit the Voices for Virginia’s Children website at vakids.org.

About RAISE

RAISE One-Pager (page 1)

Alexandria’s Trauma Informed Community Network (TICN) is located in Alexandria, Virginia. Established in July 2019, Alexandria’s TICN aims to build a more equitable, safe, trauma-informed and resilient Alexandria by informing, supporting and elevating our community. Hence its name, Resilience  Alexandria: Inform. Support. Elevate. (RAISE)

RAISE Mission, Priorities, Committees, & Accomplishments

Mission

To build a more trauma-informed and resilient Alexandria by informing, supporting and elevating our community. 

Priorities

RAISE members were asked to use their lived experience and expertise to identify sources of trauma that are specific to Alexandria. Based on those sources, four following priorities drive RAISE’s mission:

  1. Inform Alexandria’s community and various sectors about RAISE and its mission to build a more trauma-informed and resilient Alexandria;
  2. Support community members and professionals by delivering trainings focused on ACEs, trauma, and resilience, and
  3. Support organizations becoming trauma-informed by providing them with technical assistance in transforming their spaces, policies, and procedures; and finally
  4. Elevate our community’s needs and voice through advocacy at the micro and macro levels.

RAISE Committees

These priorities and RAISE’s current capacity resulted in the following committees which guide RAISE’s strategic direction:

  • Member Engagement and Wellness Committee: Supports existing efforts that aim to promote community wellness and resiliency among RAISE members and the greater community.
  • Changing Environments and Cultures Committee: Helps teams and organizations create a trauma-informed culture by providing them with technical assistance in transforming their spaces, policies, and procedures.
  • Justice Advocacy Committee: Supports community members and professionals by delivering trainings focused on ACEs, trauma, and resilience, and elevates our community’s voices by advocating for justice and advancing policies that dismantle systems that perpetuate racial trauma and inequity

Each of these subcommittees have developed their own action plans that will guide future work and evaluate progress.

Past Accomplishments

RAISE Accomplishments
RAISE Accomplishments

 

Progress on Building a More Trauma-Informed & Resilient Community

In 2021, Alexandria celebrated the release of its second Children and Youth Community Plan (CYCP), a blueprint for improving outcomes for children who call Alexandria home. Every month, the City’s Department of Community and Human Services publishes a “Children and Youth Community Plan Report Card” that engages the public on the progress of the CYCP. Each Report Card helps tell the unique story about Alexandria’s children and youth. RAISE coordinates the Plan's strategy to "Create a more trauma-informed and resilient Alexandria by informing, supporting, and elevating our community." View the PDF version of the 2023 Report Card on Community Resilience.

Community Resilience 2023
Community Resilience 2023 (p.2)
Community Resilience 2023 (p.3)
Community Resilience 2023 (p.4)

 

Mailing List, Meetings, Orientations, and Events

Mailing List

To sign up to our mailing list to receive RAISE updates, fill out this short registration form.

Network Meetings

Network Meetings provides members an opportunity to hear about and share trauma-informed efforts taking place across the city and state; receive policy updates from the General Assembly, make decisions, and collaborate on shared work. To find out about upcoming meeting dates, contact Leah Fraley at LFraley@scanva.org and Nathaniel Lewis at nathaniel.lewis@vdh.virginia.gov.

Free Trainings, Workshops, and More!

Take a look at a menu of trauma-informed and prevention trainings that are available upon request, free of charge!

Understanding ACEs

Understanding ACEs Training

ACEs and trauma are the leading cause of our nation's social and health problems. During the presentation, you’ll learn more about the ACE Study, the impact of stress on the brain and how that affects a person over the course of their life, and ways to promote resilience in others. Learn more.

Asset Building Workshop

Everyone's An Asset Builder

40 positive supports and strengths that young people need to succeed. The more assets a youth has, the less likely they are to engage in high-risk behaviors and the more likely they are to thrive. By taking this workshop, you are taking personal action to support youth success! Learn more.

Darkness to Light Training

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trianing

Learn about Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children Training and how you can schedule a training for your team or organization.

TI Spaces Workshop

Designing Trauma-Informed Spaces Workshop

This workshop explores what it means for a space to be trauma-informed, why this is important, and how to get started in building a trauma-informed space that will promote healing, health, and human dignity. Learn more.

QPR Training

Suicide Prevention Training

Learn more about Q.P.R., a suicide prevention training and how you can schedule a free training for your team or organization.

YMHFA

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach anyone how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Learn more about the course and how to take it.

Resilience Film Screening

Film Screening & Discussion

Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope is a one-hour documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the birth of a new movement to treat and prevent Toxic Stress. Learn how you can host or watch a screening of the film.

Intro to Trauma & Resilience

Intro to Trauma & Resilience Workshop

Learn about trauma and resilience by taking this introductory workshop.

Cultivating ACE

Cultivating Authentic Community Engagement Workshop

Guided by her lived and professional experience, Behavioral Health Community Organizer Tamika Daniel shares tips and strategies to address these challenges and facilitates a discussion that will help us answer these questions together. Learn more!

Volunteer Needs

Roles, Responsibilities, & Time Commitments

Volunteering for RAISE is a great way to gain leadership experience, volunteer or internship hours, knowledge of Alexandria's systems, initiatives, and trauma champions, and friends! There is a role for all ages, backgrounds, lived experiences, sectors, staff position levels, etc. Training and ongoing support is provided. Any one of these roles can be made into an internship or capstone project. If interested in learning more, contact Leah Fraley at LFraley@scanva.org and Nathaniel Lewis at nathaniel.lewis@vdh.virginia.gov.

Volunteer Needs/Positions

  • Committee Co-Chairs (Need: 2)
    • Responsibilities: Help plan and facilitate committee meetings and activities that are in alignment with Committee Action Plans. Contribute to member engagement, and more. Encourage and support the collection of data to identify needs and monitor on-going performance of the Committee. Oversee progress with the implementation of the Committee's Action Plan and report on the Committee's progress. Collaborate on the design and implementation of new initiatives set by the Committee, center equity in all decisions, and ensure that strategic decisions made are in alignment with the overall strategic goals of RAISE. Help manage the "day-to-day" operations that keep the Committee moving forward and on track, including member engagement, communications, data collection and analysis, and other administrative tasks. Identify and cultivate emerging leaders in RAISE. Attend monthly Steering Committee meetings and quarterly educational events and Network Meetings. To learn more about each Committee, see the "Committee" section of the page.
    • Approximate Time Commitment: ~2-4 Hours/month
  • Communications Specialist (Need: 1-2)
    • Responsibilities: Serve as a bridge to the greater community by maintaining and enhancing communication practices and platforms that engage community members, raise awareness, share information, and cultivate motivation. Assist with the implementation of the Member Engagement Plan, the development of the RAISE eNewsletter every month, a RAISE promotional video, the creation of flyers, brochures, and other marketing material, and lead efforts that support the annual Resilience Week VA campaign. Attend quarterly Network Meetings and monthly Steering Committee Meetings.
    • Approximate Time Commitment: 3-6 hours/month
  • Training & Events Coordinator (Need: 1)
    • Responsibilities: Help plan and organize monthly trainings, educational experiences, film screenings, and special events. 
    • Approximate Time Commitment: 2-4 hours/month
  • Grant Coordinator (Need: 1)
    • Responsibilities: Help build RAISE's capacity to create a more trauma-informed and resilient community by coordinating efforts to obtain grants and funding. Seek out funding opportunities, analyze Request for Proposals, write grant proposals and narratives, and prepare required reports. Provide project management, ensuring that project stakeholders have reviewed and provided feedback on proposals in a timely manner, and obtaining final approval.
    • Approximate Time Commitment: 0-1 million hours/month
  • Committee Member (Need: Unlimited)
    • Responsibilities: Committees are at the heart of RAISE and bring ideas to life. RAISE has three Committees and each has their own Action Plan that helps to achieve the mission of RAISE. Committee members have professional and/or lived experience, are genuinely interested in advancing racial equity, building resilience, raising awareness of the impacts of trauma and ACEs, and creating trauma-informed environments, and are action-oriented "doers" who commit to attending meetings, educational experiences, and carrying out tasks.
    • Approximate Time Commitment: 2-4 hours/month

City-Wide Strategic Plans for Creating Self-Healing Communities

Community Mental Health & Resilience Plan

Community Mental Health & Resilience Plan

The Plan recommends mental health strategies that support all of Alexandria's workforce, parents, youth, and residents throughout and after the pandemic.

CHIP 2025

Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

The CHIP identified Mental Health as one of three priorities for our community to address,

Children and Youth Community Plan 2025

Children & Youth Community Plan

This Plan is all about decreasing ACEs and increasing assets.

Resources

Resources for Building Resilience

  • Resilience Week VA 2020 Resources:
    • 20 Ways to Build Resilience at Home: For grown-ups | For kids
    • 50 Ways to Build Resilience: Mindful Mondays | Trauma-Informed Tuesdays | Whimsical Wednesdays | Tranquility Thursdays | Friendly Fridays | Self-Care Saturdays | Sanctuary Sundays
    • Health, Wellness and Mindfulness Resources for Home

    • Ways to Practice: Health of Mind, Body, & Spirit | Connection | Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion | Happiness & Play | Kindness & Gratitude (Graphics)

  • Resilience Week VA 2021 Resources

  • Resilience Week VA 2022 Resources

  • Resilience Week VA 2023 Resources

    • Ways to Reconnect, Reset, and Recharge (Graphics)

Youth Resources

College and Career Pathways

 

 

 

 

 

Alexandria's Resource Directory for Youth and Young Adults

Resources to Help Children and Youth Heal in the Wake of Traumatic Events

These supports, available in both English and Spanish, were compiled by the National Research Center of Hispanic Children and Families and developed by national organizations including The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, the American Psychological Association, and the Child Mind Institute.

  • Resources for Parents and Caregivers
    • Helping Children Cope With Frightening News | Cómo ayudar a los niños a afrontar noticias alarmantes
    • Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers | Ayuda Para Los Adolescentes Con Duelo Traumático
    • After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal | Después De Una Crisis: Cómo Sanan A Los Niños
    • Creating Supportive Environments When Scary Things Happen | Creando Ambientes de Apoyo Cuando Suceden Hechos Alarmantes
    • Talking to Children When Scary Things Happen | Hablando con los Niños Cuando Sucede La Violencia
    • Talking to Teens When Violence Happens | Hablando con los Adolescentes Cuando Sucede la Violencia
    • Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event | Reacciones A Eventos Traumaticos Relacionadas Con La Edad
    • Helping Your Children Manage Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting | Cómo Ayudar A Sus Hijos Tras Los Tiroteos En Los Centros De Educación
    • Parent Guidelines for Helping Youth After the Recent Shooting | Guía Para Los Padres Para Ayudar A Los Jóvenes Después De Un Tiroteo Reciente
    • How to Talk to Kids About School Shootings | Ansiedad por los tiroteos en las escuelas
  • Resources for Educators
    • Helping Youth After Community Trauma: Tips for Educators | Ayuda Para Jóvenes Después De Un Trauma Comunitario
  • General Resources
    • Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event | Cómo ayudar a los niños a lidiar con un evento traumático
    • Helping Children Cope with Grief | Cómo ayudar a los niños a enfrentar el duelo
    • Quick Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Guía rápida sobre el trastorno de estrés postraumático
    • Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting | Manejando tú angustia después de los tiroteos
    • Well-being Practices: Gentle Reminders for Times of Stress | Prácticas para el Bienestar: Breves Recordatorios para Tiempos de Estrés

Race Based Trauma Resources and Support in Times of Civil Strife

Continuum for Coping with Racial Trauma

Chronic stress can have negative side effects on everyone. Psycho-social factors, specifically, pervasive exposure to racism and discrimination, create an additional daily stressor for people of color. Research shows this to be particularly true for African-Americans (APA, 2016). Race Based Trauma Resources and Support in Times of Civil contains a continually growing list of resources for and information related to coping with racism and trauma on individual, interpersonal and family, community and national and global levels.

Grief and Loss Resources

Full Circle Grief Center, based in Richmond, Virginia, provides support for grieving children, families, adults, and communities through support groups, individual counseling services, remembrance programs, and grief education support.

  • Allyson English Drake presented A Journey through Grief to RAISE in October 2020 and shared these resources on Grief Journaling and Journaling for Healing with the network.
  • The Center has curated a Resource Library that offers a comprehensive array of resources for children, teens, adults, families, and individuals of all ages.
  • Full Circle has also compiled a list of Books and Websites for children, teens, adults, counselors, and those grieving the loss of a pet, child, miscarriage, sibling, or loved one.
  • The Full Circle staff created a 2022 Bereavement Resource Manual as a free resource to the community
  • Conversations about Grief is a series of pre-recorded educational programs hosted by Full Circle with the goal of increasing the community conversation about death, dying, and loss.

Guides and Toolkits for Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices

  • Trauma and Equity Lens from Fairfax TICN  
  • Resiliency Toolkit and Resources Supervisors to Support their Employees
  • Roadmap to Trauma-Informed Care by Trauma-Informed Oregon
  • ­ Helping Traumatized Children Learn and Creating and Advocating for Trauma-Sensitive Schools from the Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Harvard Law
  • Key Ingredients for Successful Trauma-Informed Care Implementation from the Center for Health Care Strategies
  • NCTSN Child Welfare Trauma Toolkit
  • SAMHSA Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma Informed Approach
  • ­Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice from the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare 

Resources for Creating Trauma-Informed Environments

For Trauma-Informed Organizations

  • Creating Trauma-Informed Spaces: Information Sheet (Fairfax TICN)
  • Creating Trauma-Informed Spaces: Facility Review Checklist (Fairfax TICN)
  • Trauma-Informed Agency Self-Assessment (Virginia HEALS')

For Trauma-Informed Supervision

  • Trauma-Informed Supervision Self-Assessment

Resources for Coping with COVID and Uncertainty

Coping with COVID Resources 

  • Resources for Coping with Fear and Uncertainty

Resiliency Resources For Supervisors

  • A toolkit designed to help supervisors and their staff understand the mental health impact of COVID-19 and challenges associated with returning to the workplace. 

COVID Specific Resources from Fairfax TICN:

  • Trauma Informed Supervision During COVID-19, April 7, 2020
  • Navigating Telework, April 2, 2020
  • TICN March Message, March 31, 2020
  • Self Care, March 19, 2020
  • COVID-19 Special Edition, March 16, 2020

Handouts and Flyers

  • RAISE One-Pager
  •  Adverse Community Environments vs. Trauma-Informed and Equitable Systems - What causes poor health and behavioral outcomes among youth? What do resilient communities look like? What does it mean for a young person to "thrive"? This infographic explains!
  • Trauma Fact Sheet 
  • A Guide to Educating Children, Youth, and Families About Trauma and Resilience
  • Trauma and Resilience Tree
  • Mini Mandalas
  • Raise Your Voice to Help Neighbors at Risk of Abuse : How to recognize signs of abuse in children and adults. View or download the flyer in  English,  Spanish,  Amharic or  Arabic and share with your network. 
  • Parenting Support Line (703.324.7720).  Anyone, no matter their immigration status, can call and receive help.
    Parent Support Line

ACEs and Trauma Research

  • ACE Study
  • ADHD and Child Traumatic Stress
  • Effects of Trauma on Health Fact Sheet
  • Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice
  •  Adverse Community Environments vs. Trauma-Informed and Equitable Systems - What causes poor health and behavioral outcomes among youth? What do resilient communities look like? What does it mean for a young person to "thrive"? This infographic below explains!
    ACEs & Health Outcomes
Trauma-Informed Systems Support Thriving Youth.

 

Videos

  • Beyond the Cliff (Trauma Exposure on Professionals)
  • Connecting the Dots between Complex Trauma and Misdiagnosis
  • Dr. Dan Siegel’s Hand Model of the Brain
  • Every Opportunity
  • Healing Neen
  • Why Mindfulness is a Superpower

LGBTQ+ Resources

LGBTQ+ Resources

 

The Alexandria LGBTQ+ Task Force is a space where LGBTQ+ people and allies gather quarterly to network, share ideas, and plan training and community events. The goal of the Task Force is to create safe and inclusive service provision to LGBTQ+ people in the City of Alexandria.  Check out their list of resources for people who identify as LGBTQ+

RAISE Meeting Agendas & Materials

2023

  • July - Retreat
  • June - RAISE Member Orientation (cancelled)
  • May - Resilience Week VA 2023! Check out this year's events and resilience building resources here!
  • April
  • March - RAISE Member Orientation
  • February - Educational Experience: Advocacy through Storytelling
  • January

2022

  • December - RAISE Member Orientation
  • November - Educational Experience: Trauma-Informed Spaces Workshop
  • October
  • September
  • July
  • June
  • May - Resilience Week
  • April
  • March
  • February
  • January- Educational Experience

2021

  • October
  • August
  • July
  • June
  • May
  • April
  • March
  • February
  • January

2020

  • December
  • October
  • September
  • August
  • July
  • June
  • May
  • April
  • March
  • January

2019

  • December
  • November
  • October
  • September
  • August
  • July

RAISE Members

The members that make up the RAISE Network hail from the following organizations:

Advocacy

  • Voices for VA's Children

Animal Adoption and Welfare

  • Alexandria Animal Welfare League

Arts, Recreation, and Cultural Activities

  • The Artistic Fuel Foundation

  • Department of Recreation, Parks, and Cultural Activities

Education

Early Childhood Education and Care

  • Child & Family Network Centers
  • Early Childhood Wellness Program
  • Higher Horizons
  • Kids First Years
  • Parent Infant Education Program

K-12

  • Alexandria City Public Schools
  • Arlington Public Schools
  • Caroline County Public Schools
  • Charles City Public Schools
  • Communities in Schools of NOVA and Petersburg
  • Comstock Public Schools
  • Fairfax County Public Schools
  • Page County Public Schools
  • Prince William County Schools

Post-Secondary Education

  • George Mason University
  • Liberty University
  • Marymount University
  • Northern Virginia Community College

Faith-Based

  • Christ Church

Family Services

  • Arlington/Alexandria Court Appointed Special Advocates
  • Center for Alexandria's Children
  • Children's Services Act
  • Child Welfare Division
  • Formed Families Forward
  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
  • Northern Virginia Family Services
  • Phillips Programs for Children and Families
  • SCAN of NoVA

Government

  • Alexandria City Council
  • Alexandria City Manager's Office
  • Alexandria Department of Human Resources
  • Arlington County
  • City of Richmond
  • Chesterfield County Government
  • Fairfax County Government
  • Herndon County Government

Housing and Homeless Services

  • ACPS - Homeless Education Liaison Program
  • Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority
  • Carpenter's Shelter
  • Community Lodgings

Social Services

  • ALIVE!
  • Doorways
  • Friends of Guest House
  • Human Services Benefits
  • Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
  • United Way of the National Capital Area
  • Virginia Department of Social Services
  • Volunteers of America
  • Warsaw | The Haven Shelter & Services

Information Services

  • Alexandria Library

LGBTQ+

  • LGBTQ+ Task Force
  • Safe Space NoVA

Mental and Behavioral Health

  • Alexandria Community Services Board
  • Adult Mental Health Services
  • Child and Family Behavioral Health Services
  • Child Savers
  • The Wise Family Counseling
  • Mental Health America
  • Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

Philanthropy

  • ACT for Alexandria

Public Health, Healthcare, & Wellness

  • Arlington Resilience Community
  • Alexandria Health Department
  • Arlington Free Clinic
  • Fairfax TICN
  • Fueled & Fed Nutrition
  • Greater Richmond TICN
  • Hampton Roads TICN
  • Mindful Junkie
  • Northern Virginia Health Foundation
  • Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria
  • Virginia Department of Health

Public Safety, Courts, & Legal Services

  • Alexandria Courts
  • Court Service Unit
  • Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
  • Commonwealth Attorney
  • Juvenile Detention Center of Northern Virginia
  • Legal Services of Northern Virginia
  • Sheriff
  • Virginia Public Defender Offices

Workforce Training and Development

  • Alexandria Seaport Foundation
  • Together We Bake
  • Workforce Development Center

Youth Development and Prevention

  • Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy
  • Campagna Center
  • Capital Youth Empowerment Program
  • Running Brooke
  • Substance Abuse Prevention Campaign of Alexandria
  • Youth Development Team

Contact Information

RAISE Email: RAISE@alexandriava.gov

RAISE Co-Coordinators

Leah Fraley, SCAN of Northern Virginia 
LFraley@scanva.org

Nathaniel Lewis, Alexandria Health Department
nathaniel.lewis@vdh.virginia.gov

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