INITIATIVES

We support individuals, organizations, and communities as they recognize the often unspoken long-term wounds of adversity and trauma.

We Heal Together Initiative

The We Heal Together Winston-Salem Initiative (WHT) is a 4-year collaborative community partnership between Action for Equity, Crossnore’s Center for Trauma Resilient Communities, and Forsyth Futures dedicated to promoting resilience, equity, and trauma-informed approaches in communities. This collaborative work will assist youth and families through evidence-based violence prevention and community youth engagement programs. This work is being done alongside The People’s Research Council and eight future Backbone Agencies that will implement the Trauma Resilient Communities Model as an organizational change modality throughout their organization.

The initiative begins with a community needs assessment, followed by a strategic planning phase. The project emphasizes community engagement, transparency, and concrete action steps to address challenges and ensure the sustainability of a trauma-informed East Winston community.

Read about our Community Kickoff event on WXII 12 and on ABC45!

Funding for the We Heal Together Winston-Salem initiative was awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) program.

Initiative Footprint

Become a Backbone Agency

Crossnore’s Center for Trauma Resilient Communities (CTRC) will provide professional and organizational learning opportunities to Backbone Agency (BBA) partners. These opportunities include training, workshops, and workforce development through the Trauma Resilient Communities (TRC) Model, an evidence-supported, trauma-informed change modality. The aim is to establish a well-coordinated, trauma-informed system of care that promotes healing and recovery for members of the East Winston-Salem community. BBA partnerships are a vital driver of this change process.

A BBA is one of several organizations in East Winston-Salem that:

Understand the harmful impact of organizational trauma on staff, individuals and families served, and the larger system of care for children and families;
Wants to cultivate a healing, healthy, and equitable work environment for all within the organization;
Has the willingness, time, capacity, and commitment to become a trauma-responsive and trauma-resilient organization;
Has the backing and support ACROSS the agency (from leadership to front-line staff) to engage in the training, consultation, evaluation, and supports from the CTRC;
Is willing to serve as a leader in East Winston-Salem and the larger community to bring hope and healing to individuals, communities, and system of care partners.

Learn More About Becoming a BBA

Apply to Become a Backbone Agency

We Heal Together Winston-Salem

Partnership Launch

April 9, 2024, 9am–1pm

St. Stephen Missionary Basptist Church
5000 Noble Street, Winston-Salem 27105

You’re invited to the We Heal Together Winston-Salem Partnership Launch! This launch will highlight the goals and objectives of the project, including a presentation of the Community Risk Needs Assessment (CRNA). Dr. Laura Gerald, President of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, will also join us for a conversation and Q&A on the trauma-informed movement within the Winston-Salem community.

Breakfast will be served.

Partners

Action4Equity collaborates and influences policy decisions that foster equity in education.

action4equityws.org

Forsyth Futures studies our community to understand the causes of systemic challenges, communicate these insights in accessible, engaging ways, and disseminate them to stakeholders at all levels to inform positive change.

forsythfutures.org

Crossnore Communities for Children is a recognized leader in helping children who have experienced abuse or other trauma reclaim, rebuild, and reimagine the essential belief in a safe, dependable home.

crossnore.org

The Peoples’ Research Council(PRC) is a new community-led initiative to put PEOPLE in charge of local research.

peoplesresearchcouncil.org

The Center for Trauma Resilient Communities (CTRC) supports individuals and groups to embed and embody the science of trauma resilience within their communities.

traumaresilient.org

The Winston-Salem Trauma Resilient Community Initiative

The WS-TRC initiative seeks to meet the goals set by Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to reduce the occurrences and impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress amongst children; birth to eleven years old. The initiative promotes resilience and equity for the area’s high-risk children and families most impacted by adversity and trauma through its support of community-based systems and organizations in their learning and operationalizing of resilience practices.

Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has been integral in grant support over the years to aid in data collection from community and community partners to advance collective change across organizations and systems serving children and their families. The WS-TRC initiative will continue ongoing work and complement the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) We Heal Together grant, to ultimately create a trauma resilient continuum of care across Winston-Salem through its partnership with organizations serving children, birth to eleven years old.