Starr Commonwealth is excited to announce our newest online course, Children of Trauma and Resilience, presented by Dr. Caelan Soma. Participants will learn about the impacts of toxic stress and trauma, how to help process those experiences, and how to foster and nurture characteristics of resilience. Find out more at our store.
Through the generosity of Southern Michigan Bank & Trust (SMBT), Starr Commonwealth was the recipient of gift baskets for students participating in its Student Resiliency and Empowerment Center (REC). Gifts were delivered prior to the holiday break during a celebration and photo opportunity, during which time Southern Michigan Bank & Trust representatives were presented with…
REEXPERIENCING Intrusive thoughts, feelings Traumatic dreams Flashbacks Intense psychological distress triggered by reminders Physiological reactivity PERSISTENT AVOIDANCE Of thoughts, feelings, talking of activities, places, people associated with trauma Inability to recall Numbing, detachment, estrangement Restricted affect Foreshortened future INCREASED AROUSAL Sleep difficulty Irritability, assaultive behavior Difficulty concentrating Difficulty remembering Hypervigilance Startle response PTSD is diagnosed…
The holiday season is upon us: at home, in the workplace, in our communities, classrooms, and far and wide in the media, online, and in neighborhood stores. This time of year can inspire festive gatherings and activities of joy, togetherness, and heartfelt memories with family and friends. For some, though, the holidays can be a…
For many trauma-informed practitioners, caring for the children they serve is often through the lens of “patient” or “student”. Rarely does our work become too personal. For Starr Certified Trauma Practitioner Jon Jon Rivero, 2013’s Typhoon Yolanda challenged his life’s work in a region of the world he holds dear, and made him reflect on…
The Starr Alumni Association has been an asset for former students for many years, providing not only a network but an emotional support system for our youth after they leave our programs. While planning our Alumni Cookout, we had the opportunity to talk with two former presidents of the Alumni Association, Dr. Jim Pelt and…
For years, the Macomb County Independent School District has been home to our annual Trauma & Resilience Conference. This year, due to the CDC social distancing guidelines in response to the Coronavirus, Starr Commonwealth has made the decision to transition to a virtual conference. More details will be available soon. For any questions surrounding the…