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Iowa: 1 (800) 362-2178

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Building Resilience

Everyone is born resilient.

Even more so, anyone can learn to adapt better, bounce back stronger and rebound healthier than ever.

It’s not an easy thing to rebuild after trauma, and it’s a different journey for every individual. But with the right amount of support, time and hope, survival is not only possible, it’s within sight.

 

Resilience Questionnaire

Just as we have adverse experiences in our childhoods, we also have experiences that help us build our resilience.

Research is showing more and more the importance of resilience in overcoming the long-term impact of trauma. Answer the following questions to develop a better understanding of your personal resilience.

It’s important to remember that everyone has the capacity for resilience and we can always build resilience. Whereas the ACE score is static due to past events in our childhoods, resilience can be built in our present lives.

take the questionnaire

 

11 Ways to Encourage Resilience in Yourself

1. Maintain close connections with people. Healthy relationships with family and friends means that you have a support system that you can lean on when you feel stress or pain.

2. Think of yourself in a positive light. Try to silence your inner critic and instead listen to your inner cheerleader.

3. Your new mantra: I am resilient. You are not a victim, you are a survivor.

4. Trust yourself. Believe in your strength, your abilities and your instincts.

5. Give yourself control. Develop realistic, meaningful goals, and take decisive actions toward accomplishing them (and celebrate every small victory!).

6. Ask for help. There is no shame in admitting you don’t have all the answers.

7. Find healthy coping mechanisms. Make good choices and take care of yourself.

8. Help others. Your experiences and advice might be the perfect thing someone else needs to hear, and your support might mean the world to someone.

9. Accept change. Think about what you can control, and what is out of your control.

10. Exude optimism. Maintaining a hopeful outlook can help train your brain to not get bogged down in negativity.

11. Dig deep. Find out what is meaningful to you and compare that with how you spend your time. Identify ways you can continue to heal, like daily meditation, gentle yoga, creating art or listening to music.

 

Resilience Resources

What is resilience? | Watch Video

How to build up resilience | Visit Website

The APA’s road to resilience

NCTSN and child traumatic stress

NCTSN and family resilience and traumatic stress

We wish to thank you for your hospitality and the wonderful program and tour of Project Harmony. We are so fortunate to have an organization acting on the behalf of our children with such outstanding enthusiasm and dedication.

- Rotary Club of Omaha Northwest

Thank you so much for coming to Children’s and speaking to our staff. Your talk on “Understanding Poverty” was excellent, and I could see “wheels turning” as some staff members commented on simple ways their interactions might make a difference for children and parents.

- Patty Carrell, CMSW

I have felt that my input has been highly valued and respected when it comes to doing my job, and that is something that speaks volumes to the working environment here at Project Harmony.

- Brenda Jewell

We began collaborating with the Project Harmony through their Connections program last year, and we’ve continued the partnership. Connections represents an extremely valuable partnership and an opportunity to provide our students with a bridge to mental health services.

- Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Our experience and partnership with Project Harmony/Connections has been fantastic! It is a comfort knowing we have a partner who can connect our students and families with the appropriate resources in times of crisis or trauma.

- Millard Public Schools

This shadowing experience actually made me very interested in this field. One aspect that helped me narrow my choice of careers is the environment that Project Harmony had. It was very upbeat, cheerful and bright.

- UNMC High School Alliance Program – Student Journal

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Project Harmony for planning and delivering professional development to our 70 counselors, social workers and community counselors. We feel fortunate to have such a valuable resource in our community to partner with.

- Millard Public Schools

You have a top rate program – really national quality. I’m totally impressed.

- Lisa Fontes

At our last D2 Center Board meeting, I was describing the training and professional development we provide for our staff. At the top of the list was Project Harmony. Please know that you are providing an invaluable service to nonprofits in our community.

- Greg Emmel

Congratulations on the great media coverage of your Stewards class at Project Harmony on WOWT. You did a great job articulating the importance of prevention, and Susan was amazing too. Thank you so much for your partnership and all the important work you are doing.

- Cindy McElhinney – Darkness to Light

Just wanted to know that you made a difference in my life, and I will be using that momentum to make a difference in the lives of others. You are truly a rock star and a role model for me. Thank you for a new life I’m getting the chance to live.

- Anonymous

Many children through my caseload have received a backpack generously donated to the Project Harmony Triage Center. I have witnessed many faces light up when given the opportunity to pick out a new backpack, and I am very grateful for the generosity of the Junior League.

- DHHS – Children & Family Services

I have never felt as valued at other organizations like I do at Project Harmony. I really feel that the culture of a working environment is incredibly important. If an employee feels respected, valued and supported, that person will likely give more to fulfill the mission.

- Javier Castellote

Nick and Javier were great teachers and role players. It gave us an opportunity to see how someone in that situation would have reacted to our questions. They did a great job at showing us the difference between sympathy and empathy.

- Anonymous

I was able to shadow Mr. Nick Zadina. He was in charge of dealing with abused kids and help them. I am thankful to know all the information I learned during shadowing because it was eye opening.

- UNMC High School Alliance Program – Student Journal

The experience at Project Harmony was a deepening reminder of empathy that will be vital in my career as a nurse. I felt my perspective was widened on how others think, especially when discussing the assumptions we make.

- Anonymous

I didn’t know how many people work at Project Harmony, so I drew a lot to show how much Project Harmony means to me!

- Project Harmony Client

As difficult as a removal is on a child, the backpack they receive at Project Harmony provides a sense of belonging and hope. It truly is amazing something that seems so simple can change the perspective and shine light on these children.

- DHHS – Children & Family Services

Great leadership for a wonderful cause with outstanding long-term goals. Keep on doing all the good you do.

- Bill & Jean O’Conner

Project Harmony is the reason I started my journey in college. I just finished my associates and I'm going for my bachelors now in Child Protection and Juvenile Justice. Y'all helped my daughter back in early 2013 and I knew what I wanted to do with my life — help children.

- LaLa Ann

A young lady who works in our field told me that she loved what we do here at Project Harmony — she had been to Project Harmony seven years ago for a forensic interview. She said her positive experience was the biggest reason she is doing the work that she is today.

- Trainee

I found out that my foster son is going to have a forensic interview here at Project Harmony soon. It’s been interesting being on the other side of things and feeling so reassured that the child I care so deeply about is in very caring and capable hands.

- Jessica Kroeker

Nick demonstrated how one person could impact a huge group of student nurses by just attending his presentation. He gave me the reason, the courage to act, and the knowledge how to save victims that I will face in my future nursing career.

- Anonymous

I recently attended the Testifying Training course. Since that class I have been subpoenaed three times, and I had to testify at each hearing. Without this class I would have been less than prepared and too nervous to be credible. Thank you so much!

- Jenny Lewis

You are part of the solution.

The cycle of abuse does not have to continue, but we can’t end it alone. Anyone has the power to be someone who makes our community a safe place for all children.

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