Charleston R-1 community members build connections to address trauma, toxic stress

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Several Charleston leaders recently met to explore ways they can work together to address the impact of trauma and toxic stress in the community.

Sheila Branch, project director for Alive and Well Communities, collaborated with Lester Gillespie, owner of Stella Consulting; Preston Moore, Charleston R-1 board member; and R-1 Superintendent Jeremy Siebert to discuss working together to improve well-being for students, educators and residents in the Charleston community.

According to B.J. Babb, Title I parent liaison/communications specialist for Charleston R-1 School District, Alive and Well Communities in partnership with Gillespie was recently awarded a grant from the Missouri Foundation for Health to build a network of residents, known as community consultants, which are responsible for engaging community members to address their well-being.

“Consultants empower residents with the tools to identify the impact of toxic stress and trauma on health and wellbeing, and encourage collaborative community change. While community consultants are currently active in the St. Louis region, the Bootheel is only the second region in the state to have them,” Babb said in a news release.

This work complements the work of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and Alive and Well Communities through the REACH initiative. REACH is designed to help schools navigate the social and emotional needs of their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. REACH offers professional development, virtual access to mental health experts, and support for advancing educator well-being.

All participants in the meeting identified a number of ways to support educators, students and families to reach well being. They feel that together, they can help bring healing and support to the Charleston R-1 community in the face of trauma and toxic stress, Babb said.

“This trauma-informed movement will be huge for our district and community,” Siebert said. “I want to thank Mrs. Branch, Mr. Gillespie and Mr. Moore for their continued support for our teachers and students.”