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CEUs: Where Education & Excellence Meet for WNC Public Health Professionals

CEUs: Where Education & Excellence Meet for WNC Public Health Professionals

by | December 9, 2025 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience, Workforce Development

As many public health providers know, structured professional development is essential to ensure professionals stay licensed, up‑to‑date, and equipped with the latest evidence‑based practices. 

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are credits professionals earn through approved trainings, workshops, or courses – both online and in person. These are required by most licensing boards to keep providers current with research, treatment approaches, and ethical standards.

While CEUs are often a professional requirement, they also: 

  • ENHANCE clinical expertise with new tools and strategies. 
  • IMPROVE client outcomes by integrating evidence-based practices. 
  • BUILD professional networks through workshops and conferences. 
  • BOOST career opportunities by demonstrating ongoing commitment to learning. 

From January to June 2026, Resources for Resilience is excited to announce that AHEC-approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for participation in many of our trainings and workshops!

This offering allows public health and mental health professionals to not only strengthen their own resilience skills, but also receive formal recognition for their ongoing professional development. 

By attending select RFR programming, participants can earn CEUs while gaining practical tools to regulate stress, foster connection, and build healthier, more resilient communities. 

 

“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” 

Anthony J. D’Angelo 

 

CEUs For Behavioral Health Professionals 

Behavioral health professionals and providers use CEUs to stay up to date and knowledgeable on trauma-informed care, ethics, cultural competency, crisis intervention and emerging therapies. This includes:

  • Social workers 
  • Counselors 
  • Psychologists 
  • Therapists 
  • Addiction and substance abuse specialists 
  • Peer support specialists 
  • Case managers 
  • Community health workers 

 

“Commit yourself to lifelong learning. The most valuable asset you’ll ever have is your mind and what you put into it.” 

Brian Tracy 

CEUs at Resources For Resilience 

Need AHEC-approved CEU’s? Now you can get up to 33 hours of credit from our signature trauma-informed programming.  We’re excited to announce that many RFR trainings offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and/or “Contact Hours” through our partnership with Area L AHEC — making it easier than ever for our attendees to grow both personally and professionally.  

That means you can boost your credentials while building resilience in yourself and others! 

New for 2026: 

Which of our community programs qualify for AHEC-approved CEUs? 

When are the AHEC-approved, CEU-eligible programs hosted by Resources For Resilience?
JANUARY 2026
  • January 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | Reconnecting Through Hard Times (Virtual)
  • Jan 7 & 8 | Reconnect for Resilience (Virtual)
FEBRUARY 2026
  • February 5, 12, 19, 26 | Reconnecting Through Hard Times (Virtual)
  • Feb 6 | Recharging Resilience (Waynesville, NC)
MARCH 2026
  • March 5, 12, 19, 26 | Reconnecting Through Hard Times (Virtual)
  • March 26 & 27 | Reconnect for Resilience (Virtual)
APRIL 2026
  • April 2,  9, 16, 23, 30 | Reconnecting Through Hard Times (Virtual)
  • April 24 | Leading Through Hard Times (Burnsville, NC)
  • April 24 | Resiliency Champions (Morganton, NC)
MAY 2026
  • May 7, 14, 21, 28 | Reconnecting Through Hard Times (Virtual)
JUNE 2026
  • June 4, June 11, June 18, June 25: Reconnecting Through Hard Times (Virtual)
  • June 4 | Leading Through Hard Times (Blowing Rock, NC)
  • June 11 | Leading Through Hard Times (Canton, NC)

Looking for CEUs beyond June 2026? Click here or visit our CEU Event Calendar!

Reminder: Some licenses require pre-approved continuing education credits from an accrediting organization (APA, NASW, NBCC, AHEC, etc) . It is the responsibility of each attendee to confirm CEU eligibility with your licensing board — but our team is here to support you every step of the way! Please contact info@resourcesforresilience.org with any questions.  

 

Wrapping It Up 

Whether you’re a healthcare provider, educator, counselor, or other community leader in Western North Carolina, Resources For Resilience trainings help you meet your professional development requirements, deepen your trauma-informed practice, and strengthen your impact in your community  

CEUs are more than a bureaucratic checkbox—they are a lifeline for professional excellence, ensuring that care remains ethical, effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of communities. 

Check out our CEU Eligible Event Calendar to see which programs qualify for continuing education credit. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

 

Looking for CEUs beyond June 2026? Click here!

The Science of Stress: What’s Happening in Your Body—and How to Reset

The Science of Stress: What’s Happening in Your Body—and How to Reset

by | October 20, 2025 | Resources for Resilience

Resources For Resilience specializes in nervous system stabilization and trauma recovery. Our tools are grounded in applied neuroscience, emotional regulation, and resiliency. They help calm overwhelmed nervous systems and reduce long-term impacts of trauma. We teach strategies that are easy to use, easy to share, and work in real-time—on the job, at home, or during disaster recovery.

Stress hormones are your body’s emergency response team. They’re designed to protect you in moments of danger, helping you react quickly and survive. But when they stay active too long, they can wear you down—physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Understanding how stress works in the body isn’t just interesting—it’s empowering. It helps you recognize what’s happening inside you and gives you the tools to shift from survival mode to a state of calm, connection, and healing.

 

Remember, our trauma responses are not meant to be judged. Whether you mobilize into action, or fall into paralysis, all responses serve a vital purpose: self-protection, energy-preservation, and survival.

 

What Stress Looks Like

Most people recognize symptoms like sweaty palms or “butterflies” in the stomach as signs of stress, but nervous system dysregulation can also show up in less obvious ways:
  • PHYSICAL: Chronic pain, fatigue, frequent headaches, jaw clenching, muscle soreness, decreased immunity, changes in appetite, digestion or sleep.
  • MENTAL: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, or racing thoughts
  • EMOTIONAL: Increased anxiety, depression, anger, frustration, sensory overwhelm, or irritability

Chronic stress doesn’t always look the way you expect so recognizing the signs and patterns is the first step toward managing it.

Fight or Flight: The Body’s Alarm System

When your brain perceives a threat—whether it’s real or “imagined”—it activates the Sympathetic Nervous System, releasing stress hormones like:

  • Adrenaline/Epinephrine
  • Norepinephrine
  • Cortisol

Together, these chemicals increase heart rate and blood pressure and heighten the alertness needed to respond to danger. At the same time, they also put all of the restorative physical systems like digestion and immunity on hold in order to sustain energy and operate the most essential organs.

In short bursts, these stress chemicals are vital to our survival as a species. But longterm, chronic activation over time can lead to an increased risk of physical problems and dis-ease in the body:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Digestive issues
  • Weakened immunity
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Heart disease
  • Metabolic dysfunction

“Oxytocin is a hormone that’s released when we feel safe and connected. It’s the antidote to the fight-or-flight response.”

Dr. Stephen Porges

Rest & Reconnect: The Body’s Built-In Recovery System

After a stressful event, your body is designed to return to balance through the Parasympathetic Nervous System—where it can finally rest, repair and restore itself. In this state, your heart rate slows, cortisol is lowered, digestion resumes, and your body begins to heal and recover both physically and emotionally.

This is where the body’s “Resilience” neurochemicals come in:

  • Oxytocin
  • Serotonin
  • Endorphines

These have the power to reduce pain, regulate mood and support a sense of calm, safety, hope and overall well-being. They also boost neuroplasticity (your brain’s ability to adapt and grow) and activates the parts of the brain responsible for empathy, decision-making, problem-solving and creativity.

In other words, when these chemicals are flowing in the body, you shift out of survival mode and into a state of calm, clarity and connection. You can finally think clearly and respond intentionally.

Together, these chemicals don’t just override your stress response—they build your capacity for resilience long term so you can move forward stronger and healthier.

Stress isn’t just a moment, it’s a loop. The brain perceives a threat that switches on the sympathetic nervous system and releases stress hormones. If this loop keeps firing, the system begins to feed itself. The brain stays on high alert, the body stays tense, and the cycle continues. Over time, it becomes the body’s new baseline, shaping how a person thinks, feels, and moves through the world.

How to Interrupt the Stress Cycle

Stress hormones are powerful—but so are YOU. With practice and mindfulness, we can learn how to work with your body, not against it.

Each of us has the power and ability to reset our nervous systems with small, intentional actions.

  • Tend & Befriend/Calm & Connect: Engage with others through eye contact, soothing touch, or shared emotion.
  • Choose Different Thoughts: Access positive memories, sensations in the body, and feelings of gratitude to bring you back into balance.
  • Engage in Rhythmic Activity: Walking, tapping, singing or lifting can shift your neurochemical state.
  • Support, not Shame: Telling yourself or someone else to ‘calm down’ in a moment of overwhelm is like telling a body to stop bleeding after a wound. It simply can’t, as it’s responding the way nature intended.

 

“The body doesn’t keep the score. The brain keeps the score, and the body is the scorecard.”

Lisa Feldman Barrett

The Value of Resiliency Education

You can’t eliminate stress—but you can learn to manage it. That’s where Resources for Resilience™ comes in.

Our workshops and trainings teach simple, science-backed tools that help you:

  • Recognize when your stress response is activated
  • Use body-based techniques to calm your nervous system
  • Build emotional stamina and recover more quickly
  • Stay with yourself, and feel what’s true
  • Strengthen your capacity to thrive—even in high-pressure environments

Subscribe to our email list, and explore our event calendar today to learn how to help you reset, recharge, and reclaim your well-being.

Because resilience isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about knowing, and choosing, come back to center, again and again. Knowledge is power! 

Reminder: A regulated nervous system is simply a RESILIENT nervous system. It’s about knowing how to respond, move, adjust and adapt through many circumstances and situations.

Stronger Than The Storm: An Ode to WNC’s First Responders

Stronger Than The Storm: An Ode to WNC’s First Responders

by | October 16, 2025 | Disaster Relief & Weather-Related Stress, Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

During Hurricane Helene, first responders played a critical role in Western North Carolina by conducting rescues, providing emergency aid, and helping countless communities recover from widespread devastation.

The response to this disaster showcased the unwavering dedication of these helpers and heroes—not just in the moment of crisis, but in the long, difficult path to recovery. Their work saved lives, restored hope, and reminded us that we are never alone in the storm.

 

“On days like this, I think of the men and women who show up through all extremes and weather conditions to keep our essential services running and provide the comfort and security we depend on. While many of us shelter peacefully indoors, they step into the storm to make sure the power stays on, our homes are warm, the water keeps flowing, and so much more. Every day across the country there are lineworkers, emergency crews, dispatchers, and public safety teams and other resilient heroes who answer the call without hesitation. They head to work in freezing temperatures, navigating icy roads, and other dangerous conditions so our communities can stay safe.  This is not just a job—it’s service, courage, and love in action. Thank you for showing up when it’s hardest.  We see you and are grateful beyond words. “

 

Thank you Is Not Enough

Every day, first responders step into chaos and the unknown. They serve on the front lines of danger, putting themselves in harm’s way to take care of others, save lives and protect their communities.

Whether it’s a paramedic stabilizing a patient, a firefighter battling flames, or a police officer calming a crisis—these individuals carry the weight of our communities on their shoulders.

These devoted career professionals and unpaid voluneteers provide 24/7 emergency care, including weekends and holidays when the rest of us are off the clock. When disaster strikes, many public employees also jump into action as secondary responders, helping to restore utilities, reunite families and rebuild communities.

At Resources for Resilience, we recognize the hard work and life-saving sacrifices of fire service, law enforcement and emergency medical services personnel throughout Western North Carolina, and beyond.

That’s why to us honoring first responders means more than saying “thank you.” It means supporting their mental health, their emotional resilience, and their capacity to recover from what they face every day.

October 28 is National First Responder’s Day, but EVERY day is the right time to recognize and support the compassionate and courageous heroes and helpers who keep us safe, healthy, informed and connected.

 

The Burnout Epidemic

The courage and compassion of first responders is visible to everyone. But what’s less seen and discussed is the toll it takes on one’s nervous system.

Behind the uniform is a human being who feels stress, grief, and exhaustion just like the rest of us. The long shifts, the traumatic calls, the emotional strain of being “on” all the time—it adds up. And yet, they keep showing up and stepping out.

Burnout among first responders is an “invisible crisis” that can build quietly and slowly under the weight of long shifts, high-stakes decisions, and repeated exposure to trauma.

The constant pressure to stay composed and perform under stress can leave little room for emotional recovery. Over time, this can lead to exhaustion, detachment, and a sense of being overwhelmed or numb.

It’s also important to note that burnout doesn’t mean personal weakness—it simply means the nervous system is overloaded past its capactity. Recognizing the signs early and using tools to reset, reconnect, and restore can help first responders protect their well-being and continue serving with strength and compassion.

 

At Resources For Resilience™, we believe that strength isn’t just about pushing through—it’s about knowing how to reset, reconnect, and restore.

Support for Those Who Serve

First Responders already show incredible resilience just by showing up to work every day. Resiliency education isn’t about questioning your strength—it’s about sustaining it. Even the strongest individuals and teams need ways to reset, recharge, and reconnect.

Think of Resilience like any skill set- even if you’re already effective, there are still ways to strengthen and improve so that you continue for the long haul. “Sharpening the blade” will only help you in the battle!

The free tools and trainings provided by Resources For Resilience and our generous partners are designed to help first responders move more efficiently and consistently from  “survival mode” into their personal Resilience Zone of clarity, calm and connection.

  • Regulate stress in real time using simple, body-based techniques
  • Build emotional stamina through connection and co-regulation
  • Strengthen teams and communities with shared language and support
  • Prevent burnout by integrating practical self-care into daily routines

The tools we teach aren’t complicated. They’re incredibly simple, accessible, and most importantly  – scientifically proven to help people of all walks of life strengthen their capacity and continue doing what they love.

If you’re a first responder—or someone who supports them, remember that you don’t have to carry it all alone. Support is available, healing is possible, and resilience is teachable. 

Want to know more?

 

 

The Ginkgo Tree: A Living Symbol of Resilience

The Ginkgo Tree: A Living Symbol of Resilience

by | October 15, 2025 | Resources for Resilience

If you’ve attended one of our programs or seen our marketing materials, you may have noticed the ginkgo leaf. That’s no accident. At Resources for Resilience™, we chose the ginkgo as a symbol because it embodies the very essence of what we teach: the power to endure, adapt, and grow—even in the face of overwhelming adversity.

We are stronger than the storm. And like the ginkgo, we are built to last.

A Brief History of the Ginkgo Tree

  • Ancient Origins: Ginkgo biloba is the oldest surviving tree species on Earth, dating back over 200 million years—before the dinosaurs roamed.

  • Survivor of Extinction: It has withstood mass extinctions, ice ages, and dramatic climate shifts, outlasting nearly all of its botanical relatives.

  • Cultural Legacy: Buddhist monks in China and Japan cultivated ginkgos for their beauty and healing properties, planting them in temple gardens.

  • Western Discovery: German naturalist Engelbert Kaempfer introduced the ginkgo to the West in the 17th century, where it quickly captivated poets, scientists, and urban planners.

  • Hiroshima’s Hope: After the atomic bombing in 1945, six ginkgo trees near the blast site survived and still thrive today—living testaments to resilience and renewal.

The ginkgo reminds us: healing is natural, growth is possible, and strength lives in renewal.

Ginkgo as a Metaphor for Mental Health

The ginkgo’s story mirrors our own human journey through trauma, healing, and growth. Like the ginkgo:

  • We endure. Life’s challenges—grief, anxiety, loss—can feel like emotional wildfires. But just as the ginkgo withstood nuclear devastation, we too can survive what feels unsurvivable.

  • We regenerate. The ginkgo sheds its leaves each fall and returns each spring. Healing is cyclical. We let go, we rest, we begin again.

  • We adapt. Ginkgos thrive in polluted cities and harsh environments. Likewise, we can learn to navigate stress, change, and uncertainty with tools that ground and support us.

  • We root deeply. The ginkgo’s strength lies in its roots. For us, that means connection—to ourselves, to others, and to practices that restore balance.

Late in November, on a single night
Not even near to freezing, the ginkgo trees
That stand along the walk drop all their leaves
In one consent, and neither to rain nor to wind
But as though to time alone: the golden and green
Leaves litter the lawn today, that yesterday
Had spread aloft their fluttering fans of light.
 
What signal from the stars? What senses took it in?
What in those wooden motives so decided
To strike their leaves, to down their leaves,
Rebellion or surrender? and if this
Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt?
What use to learn the lessons taught by time,
If a star at any time may tell us: NOW.
Howard Nemerov

Nature-Inspired Practices for Resilience

We can channel the ginkgo’s strength in our own lives every day:

  • Ground yourself, like its deep roots in the soil. Find stability in stillness or movement, and noticing what’s in you and around you, in the present moment.
  • Release what no longer serves you, like shedding of leaves. Let go of stress, habits, or thoughts that weigh you down.
  • Reach out, like limbs and branches. Resilience grows through community and connection, not isolation.

Thank you to the ginkgo for reminding us that resilience isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about growing through it, persisting at all costs. Whether we’re navigating everyday stress or much deeper traumas, we each have the capacity to heal, adapt, and thrive.

Want more? Subscribe to our email list today, and explore free tools and trainings that help individuals, teams, and communities grow stronger—together.

One Year Later: Acknowledging Post-Helene Trauma As WNC Communities Continue To Rebuild & Recover

One Year Later: Acknowledging Post-Helene Trauma As WNC Communities Continue To Rebuild & Recover

by | September 3, 2025 | Disaster Relief & Weather-Related Stress, Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a year since everything changed in Western North Carolina.

This September and October marks one year since Hurricane Helene swept through our mountain region, leaving behind a trail of destruction that reshaped lives, landscapes, and communities. Homes were lost, families displaced, and the emotional toll continues to ripple through our region.

For many, Helene wasn’t just a storm—it was a turning point.  A moment that divided life into “before” and “after.”

As we approach this anniversary, we pause to reflect—not just on what was lost, but on what has been rebuilt, and what still lies ahead.

 

As we mark 12 months since Hurricane Helene, we reflect on the challenges our community has faced. The storm brought uncertainty, hardship, and loss, but it also highlighted the immense strength and resilience within us all. Today, we remember the courage and kindness that helped us through the toughest moments and honor the spirit of connection that continues to move us forward.

 

Stories of Strength & Solidarity

Despite the hardships, the past year has also revealed the incredible strength of Appalachian communities. Neighbors have come together to clear debris, rebuild roads, and support one another through shared childcare, home repair, meal delivery, supply drives, and emotional care. So many people in our community showed up with resources to share, and most of all- open hearts.

These acts of solidarity are not just heartwarming—they are the foundation of our region’s recovery through mutual aid and community care.

While signs of renewal are visible—reopened highways, repaired homes, and returning businesses—many challenges remain. Funding gaps persist, especially in smaller rural towns in the 25 Helene-impacted counties. Environmental restoration is ongoing, and the economic impact on our region continues to unfold.

 

Our work continues. And so does our HOPE.

 

 

In this heart-felt roundtable discussion with WLOS in August of 2025, our Executive Director Ann DuPre Rogers,  offers listening and support for several WNC residents as they tell their story post-Helene.

Takeaways:

  • “One way to think about trauma is ‘too much, too fast.’ And certainly in the case of Helene, nobody could have been prepared for that.”
  • “Short-term emotional compartmentalization can help us get through the big overwhelming times but overtime, if we are having to push through and avoid processing those emotions can kinda get stuck in our bodies.”
  • “In the midst of crisis Fight Flight Freeze can be life-saving, but if we stay in those states for too long, that’s when it can take a toll on our health mentally and physically. Depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, headache. The effects can be physical or emotional, or both.”
  • “I feel like everybody I’ve talked to in Western North Carolina has survivor’s guilt- or ‘survivors grief’ if we want to think of it another way. No matter how bad someone had it, they immediately think, ‘it could have been worse’ or ‘I feel guilty because…’. And part of that comes from our incredible drive for connection and belonging. We  are so wired to care for each other, to help eachother, to compare stories, and hold other people’s pain. Let’s honor our sense of community and think of it that guilt as part of the grieving process.”
  • “As we’re going through the healing process, there will often be the times we do feel emotional and not so good. And we can have tenderness for those times, while asking ‘what is also true?’ And what is also true is the light, the hope, the healing, that we’re not alone, that we’re seen, we’re heard, we’re ok, that we are adjusting and adapting.  Both can be true.”

forget the Helene gratitude. I can let go of the grief, . I’m grateful that every morning I see the sun. I have a place that’s secure. My son is safe and happy. That’s all a blessing. Every day is about experiencing more of the grateful part.”

Nicole K. , WNC Resident

The Lingering Impact of Trauma

While damage can be repaired and debris can be cleaned up, the memories and the feelings stay with us and sometimes never go away.

The emotional aftermath of Helene is still deeply felt across our regions. For those who lost loved ones, homes, or livelihoods, recovery is not just about rebuilding structures—it’s about healing from trauma.

Anniversary or milestone dates of traumatic events are complex as these memories land in our bodies so many different ways. These events can stir up powerful emotions, sometimes unexpectedly. Mental health struggles, stress, anxiety, and even relapses in substance abuse are common during this time.

Remember, there is no right or wrong way to process and feel at this time. All feelings are normal:

  • Overwhelm
  • Grief/Sadness
  • Avoidance
  • Numbness
  • Shock, awe
  • A mix of all of this

May you find yourself honoring this date in whatever way that feels most aligned and truthful for you. Some nourishing ideas from our team include:

  • Cooking or baking
  • Volunteering
  • Nature hikes and meditation
  • Community events
  • Developing new grieving rituals and traditions

This crisis has shown us so many things: how much we rely on each other, how much we are capable of, and how strong we actually are.

Community Anniversary Events 

Many local organizations are coordinating events to commemorate the 1-year make since Helene. Whether you choose to honor the anniversary by attending a live music concert, a healing retreat, a support group, an educational training, or simply staying home with loved ones, there is a way for everyone in WNC to grieve, process and connect in this time.

Included in these lists are several offerings from Resources For Resilience™. We are proud to offer a variety of community-based programming leading up to Helene’s 1-year anniversary, and beyond!

 

WNC residents who are interested in community connection, practical tools, simple strategies and research-backed resources to help with the overwhelm and stress they may feel in response to Helene’s anniversary, we are offering the following trainings and workshops:

Interested participants may register for each event using the links above, or view our full event calendar: resourcesforesilience.org/events.

NOTE: Our programming is not intended as a replacement for professional mental health support. For immediate support and additional resources, please consult our trusted partners:

Remember, healing happens in community. Continue to share your stories and check in with your neighbors. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know: you are not alone, and it’s okay to seek help. Even though it’s one year later, we want to remind everyone in Western North Carolina that support and resources are still available.

 

Looking Back

Last fall, the Resources for Resilience team immediately jumped into action after Helene, offering free support programming, sharing resources, and fielding local and national media queries. Over the coming weeks and months, our knowledgeable subject matter experts shared valuable guidance and information to support connection and healing for a wide variety of audiences both here in WNC, and across the nation.

For example, our Director of Resiliency Education, Katie Goetz, spoke with FEMA about how events like Hurricane Helene can jolt our nervous systems – and how our natural responses, whether amped up or shut down, are completely normal.

In 2025, the RFR team was called to participate in several impactful interviews regarding Helene response and recovery:

MORE Press & Media

“Over the past year we have grown stronger through reconstruction and remembrance, recovery and resilience. I believe we have also cultivated deeper gratitude for the things we often take for granted: clean and running water, safe housing, and an ability to connect with each other.”

Emma Olson, MPH, MSW 

Holding Gratitude

In times of crisis, the true strength of Western North Carolina emerged through the compassion, courage, and tireless efforts of its people.

From the frontline first responders and healthcare workers to essential employees, educators, local leaders, and mental health providers—each played a vital role in holding our community together. Countless professionals and volunteers stepped up to ensure that care, connection, and hope reached every corner.

To everyone who showed up when it mattered most: your selflessness and dedication lit the way through darkness, proving that humanity prevails through hardship. We will continue to say THANK YOU, and we also know that words can never truly be enough.

 

 

“There’s lots of loss, lots of grief, lots of extreme stress, but also, so many stories of connection and love and neighbors helping neighbors and people coming to each other’s aid, and figuring it out together.”

Executive Director,  Ann DuPre Rogers (Jan 2025)

Looking Ahead

Despite the heavy toll the storm has taken, our community continues to prove its resilience through acts of kindness and support. And while recovery is a long road, the stories of care and connection serve as a powerful reminder that we are not alone.

Resources for Resilience is grateful to have been able contribute to the lasting resilience of our region for years to come. Even though a year has passed, we know our work is far from done. We continue to hold space for our communities’ grief and pain, and any other complex feelings that arise from tragedy.

From now through Spring 2026, Resources for Resilience is proud to offer on-going trainings and support for individuals, teams and communities across the 25 Helene-impacted counties. This programming is completely FREE for WNC residents, thanks to our generous partners, Vaya Health, the Governor’s Recovery Office of WNC, and the NC DHHS.

If you’re interested in connecting with others or want to learn more about how you can help friends and loved ones navigate the challenges ahead, we invite you to explore these ongoing programs.

These sessions are particularly beneficial for those serving at the frontline of our communities: first responders, behavioral health providers, civil servants and public officials, community volunteers and any other vital professionals keeping us safe, healthy, informed and connected. 

 

For immediate mental health support and resources: https://bit.ly/WNCSupport

To see all of RFR’s offerings related to the Helene response and recovery: https://bit.ly/GROWNC-Offerings

To stay in the know about all of RFRs upcoming events and initiatives:  https://bit.ly/RFRSubscribe

The road to full recovery is long, but the spirit of Appalachia remains true—rooted in grit, determination and perseverance.

As we remember the storm, let us also honor our resilience, and continue to rebuild and restore our communities with both our hearts and our hands.  May we remember how our communities came together, how human generosity and kindness prevailed, and how much power and potential we, and nature, both have to regenerate, rebuild, heal and move forward.

Yesterday, today and tomorrow, we remain #WNCStrong.