Purpose Statement

Self-Healing Communities (SHC) is a community change model rooted in understanding the neurobiology of trauma, healing, and human resilience. Full development and flourishing of the human brain require humans to be treated with compassion and predictability. The goal of the SHC movement is to teach everyone in our community to care for themselves and each other in ways that prioritize the nervous system. As we each get better at caring for our human nervous systems, our communities will experience healing.

The SHC model was developed in response to the question that commonly follows after people learn about the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). SHC uses a living systems methodology (see p. 2) modeled after strategies implemented in multiple counties in Washington State. By taking into account that communities are dynamic, living, and ever-changing systems, this approach resulted in significant decreases in a number of community health measures, like youth suicide and family violence.

One key piece of this model is distributed leadership, not owned by any one organization, but owned by the community at large, with key organizations in the community serving in “Meta Leadership” roles. A second critical piece of the SHC Model is NEAR-P science: the scientific evidence surrounding Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, and Positive Childhood Experiences/Protective Factors. Cumulatively, these disciplines help us understand how to address the impacts of toxic stress on communities and examine the long-term effects on individuals. NEAR-P science also provides scientifically based methods for alleviating impact, reversing effects, and preventing future harm to individuals and communities.

Self-Healing Communities empower members and organizations with the knowledge and skills to care for one another in ways that align with the brain and body's needs. A community is self-healing when members interact in this way, are highly reflective, and commit to continuous improvement.

Advancing the work of SHC requires patience and continuous relationship-building across sectors through a trauma-informed lens. In accordance with the original research, our primary goals are to increase the number of trauma-informed organizations, expand PACEs (Positive & Adverse Childhood Experiences) Training to everyday citizens, develop and distribute materials focused on neurobiological care for people of all ages, create sustainable methods of resource delivery to community members, aid in measuring impact, and create opportunities for the community to celebrate resilience.

The Self-Healing Communities Collective, also known as Self-Healing Communities of Michiana, mission is to nurture personal and community well-being through the neuroscience of human resilience and the celebration of our collective strengths.

Porter et al, 2016. Self-Healing Communities: A Transformational Process Model for Improving Intergenerational Health. A report commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.