The Human Toll of Fire Disasters: Helping & Healing Kids & Family

Fires are devastating to communities and to the children, teens and adults grappling to survive and to recover. During the last week in Western United States, over 22,000 firefighters were combating wildfires, homes burned, and thousands of residents fled from the fast-moving flames. The Dixie Fire in Northern California and the Bootleg Fire in southern Oregon are being further sparked by very dry conditions and what climate change scientists say from climate change. The stark reality is we cannot expect the wildfire threat to ease any time soon. The harsh reality is the nation will continue to see more intense wildfires stated Oregon Gov. Kate Brown last week. We can learn from communities like Butte County’s Paradise, California destroyed by the Camp Fire in 2018. Many people lost their lives. The community of Butte County gathered during and after this tragedy to rebuild. Scott Dinits, my guest works as the Human Resources Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the North Valley and is also a Co-Director of the Ability First Sports Camp in Butte County. He is a Steering Committee member of Thrive. Thrive exists to support and expand community wide policies and practices that promote resiliency and address the impact of childhood trauma across all generations. Scott will address the impact on children and families caused by the fires and how through working with programs promoting wellness, healing can occur. He is certified in the Community Resiliency Model and as an ACE Interface Master Trainer.