CommCARE was especially inspired this summer by some very special advocates we met in Jefferson City at The Missouri Mental Health Foundation, an organization that works tirelessly to battle stigma and discrimination, promote care and treatment, and foster inclusion in the community and the workforce.
In the large group photo above, (back row, left to right) Dr. Mark Stringer, Director of Missouri Department of Mental Health, and Terry Trafton shared a special moment with the 2018 Missouri Champion Award Recipients (front row, left to right) Bobbi Jo Reed, Champion for Substance Use; Christopher Worth, Champion for Developmental Disabilities; Mirna Herrera, Champion for Mental Health.
The Foundation's annual Mental Health Champions’ Award Banquet recognizes individuals who make positive contributions to their community, exemplify commitment and vision, and whose actions have increased the potential for independence in others with similar mental health conditions. CommCARE CEO Terry Trafton (in the photo to the left) is the Board President for the Foundation.
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Making A Positive Impact.
The long standing partnership that CommCARE, the network of regional community Behavioral Health providers, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health has with Dr. Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., Founder and Senior Fellow at The ChildTrauma Academy is helping advance behavioral health treatment and care for children and families.
Terry Trafton, MS, LPC, BCC, President and CEO of CommCARE Behavioral Health, says, "The Neurosequential Model Therapies (NMT) is a developmentally-informed, biologically-respectful approach to working with at-risk children. Dr. Perry is energized to educate mental health and educational professionals and parents working with children about the lasting effects of trauma and neglect, knowing that anyone who works with children is very likely working with a traumatized child. Educating people is the key to building or rebuilding resilience given knowledge about traumatized children and the role patience, understanding and relational health can play in moving children forward."
To learn more about Dr. Bruce D. Perry and The ChildTrauma Academy... visit www.childtrauma.org
WATCH BELOW: Dr. Perry describes the importance of the healthcare community in the Kansas City Metro area.