May is Mental Health Month, and one of the focuses of Mental Health Month this year is addressing the effects of trauma on individuals and communities. Through the mental health programs at FIRM, because of our core population of refugees, we deal with individuals affected by trauma every day. However, trauma affects many more people than those who have been through war. Traumatizing events also include interpersonal violence such as abuse and bullying; social violence such as terrorism; natural disasters and accidents; serving in combat; stressors such as poverty and humiliation; and childhood trauma, which includes physical, emotional and sexual abuse and difficult family relationships.

Trauma takes a huge toll on lives and health. Did you know that trauma is the leading cause of the death of children in this country? Or that the effect of trauma on productive life years lost exceeds that of any other disease? The economic cost of 50 million injuries in the year 2000, alone, was $406 billion. This includes estimates of $80 billion in medical care costs, and $326 billion in productivity losses. And the predicted cost to the health care system from interpersonal violence and abuse ranges between $333 billion and $750 billion annually, or nearly 17 to 37.5 percent of total health care expenditures.

 When children or adults respond to traumas with fear, horror and/or helplessness, the extreme stress is toxic to their brains and bodies, and overwhelms their ability to cope. While many people who experience a traumatic event are able to move on with their lives without lasting negative effects, others may have more difficulty managing their responses to trauma. Unresolved trauma can manifest in many ways, including anxiety disorders, panic attacks, intrusive memories (flashbacks), obsessive/compulsive behaviors, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, addictions, self-injury and a variety of physical symptoms. Trauma increases health risk behaviors such as overeating, smoking, drinking and risky sex. Trauma survivors can become perpetrators themselves. Unaddressed trauma can significantly increase the risk of mental and substance use disorders, suicide, chronic physical ailments, as well as premature death.

Until recently, trauma survivors were largely unrecognized by the formal treatment system. Inadvertently, treatment systems may have frequently re-traumatized individuals and failed to understand the impact of traumatic experiences on general and mental health. Today, the causes of trauma—sexual abuse, violence in families and neighborhoods, and the impact of war, for example—are matters of public concern.

A movement for trauma-informed care has emerged to ensure that trauma is recognized and treated and that survivors are not re-victimized when they seek care. It is critical that these efforts be strengthened and we heal the invisible wounds of trauma. They are crucial to promoting the healthy development of children and healthy behaviors in families, schools and communities that reduce the likelihood of trauma.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of trauma, call FIRM at 487-1500 and ask to speak to one of our mental health staff. There is help and there is hope.

FIRM Family Festival 2012 is quickly approaching as the weather warms! This year, FIRM will host three weeks of Festival (our annual VBS style program) at the FIRM site. The weeks of June 18-22, July 9-13 and August 6-10 promise to be filled with laughter, singing, games, crafts and Bible stories for 60+ children ages 5-12 from our refugee neighborhood.

BUT, we can’t do the program without help from local churches such as YOURS! Consider gathering a group from your church and volunteering to lead a craft or activity station during one of the weeks of Festival. Or, volunteer to help lead music, provide a healthy snack, or contribute financially. For more information, please contact Sharon, Sophia or Christine at FIRM at 487-1500.

Need some motivation?  Watch this interview with FIRM Intern Connie about her experience as a child at Family Festivals.

A flyer about Festival for use in your church can be found here.

PICO California is the largest grassroots congregation-based community-organizing network in California.   On Thursday, April 26, more than 200 clergy from across the state — including Rev. Sharon Stanley from FIRM– met with Governor Jerry Brown to discuss PICO’s agenda of economic and racial justice.

Read more about this event in a news brief on the PICO California site.

Earn $5 donation when you Sign up & Dine with GoodDining in May*

Plus, Earn up to 6% of the bill for Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries – FIRM year-round!

May is National Dine Out for Charity Month and you can earn a $5 bonus donation for Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries – FIRM when you sign up for GoodDining and dine out within 60 days of registering*.

Plus, you will also earn donations up to 6% of your bill, 365 days a year when you eat at any of 10,000 participating GoodDining restaurants.

Go to the following link to sign up: ctt?kn=1&ms=NDE0Mzc3NAS2&r=MTI3NDAwNDY1OTAS1&b=0&j=NDI3NTg4MzYS1&mt=1&rt=0

FIRM has an immediate job opening for a half-time Hmong-speaking health organizer.  This staff person will have an office at FIRM and also work as part of the staff team of Faith in Community, the Fresno PICO affiliate– as well as in partnership with PICO California’s statewide health organizing work.

Interested applicants should send a resume and cover letter to Rev. Sophia DeWitt.  Please see attached Job Description.Hmong Health PICO Organizer

The Board and Staff of FIRM invite friends and supporters to our next FIRM Friends’ Night!  On Wednesday, April 25^th from 4:30-6 pm, stop by the FIRM office to learn more about what is new with FIRM’s various programs and services and meet our Staff and Board.  A variety of cultural appetizers will also be served, so come hungry!  If you plan to attend, please RSVP to Rev. Sharon Stanley, or to Lorna Bosavanh at the FIRM office, 487-1500.  We look forward to seeing you!

It’s that time of year again–FIRM is seeking volunteer help from local churches for FIRM Family Festival 2012!

This year Festival will run for almost three weeks: June 18-22, July 9-13 and August 7-10.  The program runs from 5-8 each evening, Monday-Friday, for kids ages 5-12.

As in past years, FIRM is seeking help from local churches to lead craft stations with the kids, lead sports, provide music and provide snacks each night.  If you or your church are interested in assisting with this year’s festival, please contact Christine Barker or Rev. Sharon Stanley at 487-1500.

Last week, on April 2, a youth group from San Francisco volunteered over their spring break at FIRM.  Some of the youth worked with children on learning and craft projects.  Others worked outside cleaning up graffiti and tree branches.

If your youth group would like to help at FIRM, contact Rev. Sharon Stanley for info!

This is the time to give our input on a General Plan model for our city!  Volunteers needed to turn out, and to join with other speakers if you wish, at 5 p.m. on April 5th!  For more information, please contact Sharon at:  sharons@firminc.org.

On February 28, FIRM, through its multiple mental health programs, hosted a Hmong suicide prevention workshop.  With both Southeast Asian youth and elders suffering from disproportionate rates of suicide, this workshop provided important and potentially life-saving information to the community.

The featured speaker was Dr. Peter Vang, Refugee Community Liaison with the Fresno County Department of Social Services, who himself lost a son to suicide in the Hmong youth suicide cluster several years ago.  FIRM staff also shared with attendees the signs that someone may be contemplating suicide and how to provide help.  The workshop was our largest to date with 39 attendees—many of whom also shared the personal experience of having lost someone to suicide.  FIRM holds two mental health workshops a month on a diversity of topics.