Trauma-Informed Care Town Halls Scheduled

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department

The Garrett County Health Department (GCHD) is hosting two Trauma-Informed Care Town Hall meetings in the next two months.

“You may have heard that we should not ask ‘What’s wrong with you?’” said Sadie Liller, Prevention Coordinator at GCHD and organizer of the Town Halls, “but rather, ‘What happened to you?’ These Town Halls will help us zero in on how to do just that.”

Town Hall presenters will include:

• Mary VanSickle, Mental Health Coordinator, Garrett County Public Schools, trauma-informed care.
• Heather Hanline, Executive Director, Dove Center, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
• Kristen Walker, Prevention Specialist, GCHD, Mind-Body Connection.
• Andrew Bell, JBS International, stigma.

The first Town Hall will be held at Southern Middle School on April 12, from 6-7:30 p.m.

A second Town Hall will be held at Northern Middle School on May 17, from 6-7:30 p.m.

Trauma-informed care recognizes and responds to the signs, symptoms, and risks of trauma to better support the health needs of patients who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress.

“Join us for these Town Hall Meetings to learn how to help those who have been affected by trauma, whether it’s in their current situation, or in their past,” said Liller.

These Town Halls are provided by GCHD with funds from HRSA. For more information call the health department at 301-334-7730 or 301-895-3111.