Season 1, Episode 12

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, and Prevention

Jan 23, 2023

The NH Pediatric Improvement Partnership (NH PIP) is helping pediatric practices build the skills and systems to identify and respond to trauma among their young patients and families. When pediatricians have meaningful conversations with their young patients about any type of trauma they have experienced, they validate their experiences and normalize their feelings, and they help reduce the shame and secrecy of the trauma—making healing possible.

All behavior is communication, but with children who have been traumatized, it can be difficult to know what they are saying. Through an innovative project, pediatric practices around the state are learning to decode what these children are saying. The Institute for Health Policy and Practice at UNH with expertise from the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth bring proven strategies and resources in quality improvement science to help healthcare providers take the steps to improve care during routine well-child checks.

We are excited to have Felicity Bernard, the Director of the New Hampshire Pediatric Improvement Partnership (NH PIP), with us today. She’s here to talk about how this project is helping pediatric practices look beyond what a child presents during a visit to understand how they feel and respond to stress.

Explore more on the topics and themes discussed in this episode:

Institute for Health Policy and Practice at UNH (IHPP) is an applied research institute located within the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. IHPP conducts and disseminates high-quality, cutting-edge applied research and policy work that enables health system partners to implement evidence-based strategies to improve population health.

NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (NHCADSV) works with the 12 local crisis centers throughout the state to provide advocacy, prevention and empowerment of anyone affected by sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking and human trafficking.

Granite State Children’s Alliance’s “Know and Tell” initiative: KNOW & TELL is a professional development program of the Granite State Children’s Alliance dedicated to educating all adults on the collective responsibility for child protection.

NH Children’s Trust is the Governor’s designated statewide, community-based child abuse prevention agency, the New Hampshire chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America, and a member of the National Alliance of Children’s Trust & Prevention Funds.

Family Support NH is a coalition of Family Resource Centers and Family Strengthening Programs throughout New Hampshire that exists to encourage each other to share best practices and to better provide for Granite State families.

Host & Guests

Featured Guest:

Felicity Bernard

Host: Christin D’Ovidio

Transcript

Episode Transcript (PDF)

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Felicity Bernard, MA, LCMHC  is the Director of the NH PIP,  is a licensed clinical mental health counselor who has worked in a variety of settings with others from multi-disciplinary backgrounds to address all aspects of clients’ lives and barriers to wellness.  In her management roles, she has developed and implemented programs to respond to the mental health needs of the populations with which she has worked. She is experienced in quality improvement, providing high quality patient care with positive clinical outcomes, developing methodologies for evaluation and utilizing technology solutions to increase efficient workflows. She is an experienced trainer and guide for other clinicians and professionals, helping them grow in their professional lives and their understanding of evidenced-based models of care. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology/Counselor Education from the University Colorado/Denver and a BA in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire.

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