Resources For Resilience

them manage the stress and overwhelm they were experiencing. This critical work was made possible by funding from Americares, the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina, the NC Department of Health and Human Services Center for Child and Family Wellbeing, and Vaya Health. With this support, our team made a direct and meaningful impact in countless homes, schools, organizations, and communities. Between September 30 and December 31, we provided 110 Listening Circles, 27 Reconnecting Through Hard Times presentations, more than 23 hours of acute, on-the-ground crisis response, 2 Listening Circle Facilitator trainings and 2 Facilitator refreshers to help expand and sustain our efforts. Altogether, our efforts reached more than 1,075 people across western North Carolina in the first three months. The moments of connection, compassion, and shared strength we witnessed during this time have been deeply meaningful to our team. We are proud to serve this remarkable and resilient community and remain committed to ongoing efforts that foster healing and promote lasting resilience among our neighbors.

Program Development Initiatives: In addition to the development and launch of our Reconnecting Through Hard Times curriculum following Hurricane Helene, our team designed and piloted two new programs in early 2024: Reconnect for Better Days and Educator Essentials. Reconnect for Better Days offered participants a deeper understanding of how chronic stress impacts the brain and body, providing practical, science-based tools to manage stress in real time and support daily functioning. Through these sessions, attendees learned to recognize their own stress patterns and apply simple, effective techniques to help them feel better and navigate challenging moments. In parallel, we launched Educator Essentials, a focused workshop designed for teachers, counselors, and school staff. This session introduced our Rapid Reset techniques to help students stay within their optimal learning zones, while also equipping educators with strategies to build more regulated and resilient classroom environments. In 2024, we offered 23 Reconnect for Better Days and 11 Educator Essentials presentations, reaching 604 and 489 participants, respectively. Both pilots were well received, reinforcing the need for accessible, evidence-informed supports that address the everyday challenges of stress and emotional regulation. Among Reconnect for Better Days participants who completed our feedback survey, 95% rated the presentation as Excellent. One participant shared, [I] definitely can use the resources personally, but also professionally. Similarly, 81% of surveyed Educator Essentials attendees gave the presentation this same highest rating with one attendee noting, There is a huge reason why teachers are leaving the profession. Training like you provided today could help to curb those numbers.