News reports from Adventist Health, Southern Adventist University, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta, Loma Linda University Behavioral Health and Brazil:

Adventist Health (headquartered in Roseville, California) has decided to pioneer a more Trauma-informed approach to healthcare using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) model in the 23 hospitals in California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Sonora and Mendocino counties in California are the pilot programs for this initiative.

The system is building a new competency around Trauma-Informed Care in order to export that competency to other Adventist Health hospitals and clinics.

The new approach will have two components: A training component, where administrators, providers, medical assistants, front office staff, and other personnel will learn about ACEs and Trauma-Informed Care to inform their medical practices.

The second component will be ACEs screenings for patients, which will help inform their medical plan.

From Southern Adventist University (via a Facebook post):

This May, the first two female construction management majors graduated from Southern’s Applied Technology program: Rachel Joyner earned a bachelor’s degree, and Katelynn Robertson earned an associate degree.

Joyner decided to pursue this field after attending a high school that taught technical skills. Robertson likes hands-on work and had seen her stepdad work in construction while growing up.

“I am very proud of Rachel and Katelynn,” said John Youngberg, associate professor of applied technology, which is part of the School of Business. “Women in construction used to be very rare. Today we find them in every area of the industry. My prayer for these two young ladies is that they will reflect Jesus in their workplace culture. In this industry, you get to work with such a huge variety of people; what a mission field!”

Both women landed jobs quickly. Joyner also hopes to further her own business, Ace Properties, which will rebuild houses in impoverished areas to give back to communities.

“My goal is to flip houses and give other people opportunities to grow,” Joyner said. “Nobody knows what their future can be except God. Yet, most of the time, we try to plan our entire lives without giving Him a say. I’m grateful that has He led me to this work.”

From a Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) story: Loma Linda University Health Board of Trustees has voted on new administrators for Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital and Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta. Peter Baker will assume the role of senior vice president and administrator of Children’s Hospital, and Jonathan Jean-Marie will assume the role of senior vice president and administrator for Murrieta.

From LLUH: Yesterday, Glenn Scott, LCSW, director of Loma Linda University Behavioral Health’s Youth Partial Hospital Program, spoke to the topic of mental health in times of crisis.

Scott discussed current data on COVID-19 and PTSD, including symptomatic presentation of collective trauma, tips for supporting someone through trauma, and the impact of traumatic stress on families.

To learn more about the services at Loma Linda University Behavioral Health, visit: LLUBMC.org/ReachOut

From a South American Division news story translated to English for Adventist News Network: About 30 volunteers performed a staging and made an awareness movement in order to talk about the sexual abuse of children and adolescents. The action took place in Ecoporanga, Espírito Santo, on May 15. The initiative of the youth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (IASD) took place at the Municipal Fair, in partnership with the Municipal Secretariat of Social Assistance.

On Friday, May 14, the municipality registered the case of a six-year-old child who was raped and assaulted, which made the group’s initiative all the more necessary. Young people carried banners to encourage reporting cases.

The fight against violence in all spheres is an agenda executed by the Adventist Church through the Breaking the Silence project. Each year, since 2002, this campaign has a different emphasis, but the foundation is to make people aware of the respect for women, children, and the elderly.

The campaign runs throughout the year, but one of its main actions always takes place on the fourth Sabbath of August. This is the “Day of Emphasis Against Abuse and Violence,” when there are marches, forums, parents’ schools, educational events against violence, and demonstrations in South America.

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