Resilience Awareness Month - October 20230 CHARD.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, there is compelling scientific evidence of a correlation between negative childhood experiences
known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) or "toxic stress", and
WHEREAS, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) include such experiences as physical, sexual, or verbal
abuse, physical and emotional neglect, witnessing domestic violence, losing a parent to separation or divorce or
having a family member who is: experiencing mental health issues, struggling with substance abuse, and/or
incarcerated, and
WHEREAS, there is significant scientific evidence that sources of "toxic stress" may also include poverty,
experiences of homelessness, and historical, structural, or community experiences of trauma such as racism, sexism,
homophobia, slavery, colonization, community violence, natural disasters, and
WHEREAS, in Kitsap County 62% of residents report having experienced at least 1 ACE, and over 37% of
residents report having 3 or more ACES, and research indicates the more "toxic stress" a person has experienced, the
greater his/her risk of social, emotional, behavioral, and physical health challenges, leading to school suspension,
increased dropout rates, expulsion, tardiness and absenteeism, bullying, unemployment, decreased functional work
days, homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, chronic disease, and substance abuse, and
WHEREAS, ACES are at the root of our most costly community issues, associated with 78% of IV drug use,
69% of mental illness, 67% of suicide attempts, 65% of alcoholism, 62% of domestic violence & homelessness, 61% of
adult incarceration, 54% of prescription drug abuse, 26% of cardiovascular disease, 24% of cancer, 17% of asthma,
and 15% of diabetes, and
WHEREAS, resiliency is the antidote and there is compelling scientific evidence that, being able to rely on
relationships to access resources and support in the moment of need, can transform a potentially toxic experience
into a tolerable one, and
WHEREAS, resiliency needs to be nurtured throughout the life -span and is built through supportive
relationships with caring adults and experiences that strengthen our core adaptive skills, including regulating
emotions, managing stress, planning, mental flexibility, decision making, creating/sustaining relationships, and
WHEREAS, Kitsap Strong has a vision of a community where each person flourishes and all parents raise their
children with consistency and nurturance to develop resilience, with the goal to mobilize our community through
dialogue and action to prevent ACEs in the next generation through building individual and community resilience; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Robert Putaansuu, Mayor of the City of Port Orchard, do hereby proclaim
October 2023 to be the annual
RESILIENCE AWARENESS MONTH IN CITY OF PORT ORCHARD
And urge all our residents to become informed about ACEs and their impact on development and long-term
health outcor,> 1 �M(I 61,e these principles into our everyday work and practice, and to otherwise support the
work of K11 unity of hope and healing.
ORA,�'
Signed the 26th day of September 2023
:, •••• �Fp �¢� %��� Robert Putaansuu, Mayor
'���111 11111