Study Finds Resilience Education Increases Confidence, Connection, and Recovery After Community Disaster

October 13, 2026 | Disaster Relief & Weather-Related Stress, Mental Health Matters, Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

When Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina in September 2024, the impacts extended far beyond damaged roads, homes, and infrastructure. Months after the storm, residents, caregivers, volunteers, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders continued to carry the emotional weight of recovery. Chronic stress, grief, burnout, compassion fatigue, and uncertainty became ongoing challenges for many of the people helping communities rebuild.

 

To address these needs, Resources For Resilience, in collaboration with Vaya Health and the NC Department of Health & Human Services, mobilized a region-wide effort to provide free, trauma-informed resilience education across Western North Carolina. Thanks to support from these funders and multiple community partners, RFR was able to deliver practical tools and strategies designed to help people understand stress, strengthen well-being, and support others through recovery.

Between January and June 2026, RFR offered six different resilience-focused trainings in workplaces, schools, healthcare settings, government agencies, community organizations, and virtual spaces. An independent evaluation conducted by Prevention Strategies offers evidence of the impact this work has had on individuals and communities throughout the region.

Prevention Strategies

 

Prevention Strategies is a North Carolina-based research, evaluation, and consulting organization founded in partnership with UNC Greensboro. Their team of research scientists and public health professionals help organizations measure the effectiveness of their commuinity programs, translating prevention science and behavioral research into meaningful, practical outcomes.

 

    Meeting Critical Recovery Needs

    As a nonprofit serving communities since 2017, Resources For Resilience was able to respond quickly following Hurricane Helene.

    During the GROW NC funding period alone, the organization delivered more than 1,000 hours of live, interactive programming, reaching more than 10,000 residents, professionals, volunteers, and helpers across 29 counties and the Qualla/Cherokee Boundary. They partnered with more than 70 organizations, including 50 new community partners, and provided more than 600 training opportunities throughout Western North Carolina.

    Today, the demand remains strong, with waitlists and continued requests demonstrating that resilience support remains a critical part of long-term disaster recovery.

    Disaster recovery is not measured only by rebuilding structures. It is also measured by communities’ ability to adapt, maintain connection, support one another, and move forward together.

    Evaluating Results & Impacts

    To better understand the effectiveness of the trainings, Resources for Resilience partnered with Prevention Strategies to evaluate participant experiences and outcomes related to the following trainings between January and June 2026:

    • Reconnecting Through Hard Times (682 participants)
    • Leading Through Hard Times (213 participants)
    • Recharging Resilience (180 participants)
    • Reconnect for Better Days (152 participants)
    • Reconnect for Resilience (100 participants)
    • Resiliency Champions (32 participants)

    Surveys were administered before and after trainings to measure changes in knowledge, confidence, and preparedness.

    The evaluation focused on whether participants:

    • Increased their understanding of stress and resilience
    • Felt more prepared to recognize and respond to stress in themselves and others
    • Gained practical tools for managing burnout, compassion fatigue, and toxic stress
    • Planned to use resilience strategies in their daily lives
    • Intended to share what they learned with colleagues, clients, families, and communities

    The evaluation captured data from 1,359 training participants representing communities across 29 Helene-impacted counties in Western North Carolina counties, including 19 rural counties.

     

    More than half of participants (52%) reported that this was their first resilience training experience.

    Participants Felt More Prepared and Resilient

    One of the strongest findings from the evaluation was the significant increase in participants’ understanding of stress and resilience. Participants frequently described feeling:

    • More informed and aware
    • Better understood and validated
    • More confident and equipped

    Participants also consistently highlighted the value of practical, easy-to-implement resilience strategies, which included:

    • Connecting with supportive people
    • Identifying sources of support
    • Practicing rapid-reset techniques
    • Noticing positive physical sensations
    • Building awareness of stress responses

    Lastly, the evaluation found that the impact of the trainings extended beyond individual well-being. Participants reported they were likely to use resilience strategies to help others around them regulate stress, supporting coworkers, clients, students, families, and community members.

    The findings underscore an important lesson: helping the helpers. Communities recover more effectively when the people providing support receive support themselves.

    When key community player have the knowledge, skills, tools, and supportive resources they need to manage stress and burnout in themselves, they are better able to sustain the care and leadership that their communities need and rely on.

    In other words, when we help these people care for themselves, they can better care for others and the impacts trickle outwards.

     

    The study demonstrates the powerful role resilience education can play in public health.While this evaluation focused on WNC, the findings have broader implications for disaster recovery globally, helping individuals, teams and communities maintain their well-being and strengthen valuable social connections.

     

    By the Numbers

    • 10,000+ people across 29 counties reached through resilience education and support in WNC
    • 96% of participants understood the Resilient Zone after training, up from 37% before training.
    • 98% felt better prepared to respond to burnout, compassion fatigue, and toxic stress.
    • 99% would recommend Resources For Resilience trainings to colleagues.

     

    Participant Experiences:

    “This training made me feel seen and heard and understand myself better.”

    “I have been operating in the Survival Brain for months and months at work. There are helpful tools to go to now thanks to this training.”

    “I am excited to use these tools in my professional and personal life. I already use some of the tools and I am glad to add more to my toolbox.”

    “It taught me how to help and support others while also taking care of myself.”

     

    Because many participants worked as service-based professionals (educators, first responders, healthcare providers, nonprofit staff, community leaders, etc), the benefits of the trainings extended far beyond those who attended. Participants carried resilience knowledge and practical skills back into their organizations, workplaces, families, and communities.

     

    Looking Ahead

    The study confirms what many participants and partners have experienced firsthand: resilience education is playing a valuable role in Western North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene, and it’s doing that one person, one organization, and one community at a time.

    As communities continue to face stress, grief, burnout, and recovery-related challenges long after the initial disaster, maintaining free or low-barrier training opportunities remains essential.

    Additional funding, staffing, and partnerships could help Resources For Resilience expand their capacity to meet demand, reaching more organizations and reduce growing waitlists.

    NEXT STEPS

    Project Wrap-Up: A Look Back at the GROW-NC Partnership

    July 15, 2026 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

    A Year of Community Recovery, Resilience, and Impact

    When Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in the fall of 2024, it changed our communities overnight. Homes and businesses were damaged, schools and workplaces were disrupted, and many people faced uncertainty, loss, and overwhelming stress.

    While rebuilding infrastructure would take time, another need quickly became clear: people needed practical tools to navigate challenges, reconnect with one another, and begin healing.

    At Resources for Resilience, we knew recovery would require more than an immediate response. It would take a long-term commitment to supporting individuals, families, organizations, and communities as they rebuilt together.

    Thanks to an extraordinary $2 million partnership with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Vaya Health, the WNC Recovery Office, and countless community partners, that vision became reality through the GROW NC Project.

    As this regional initiative wraps up, we’re taking a look back at all of the focused care and connection that helped thousands of people discover that healing is possible.

     

     

    An Unprecedented Year of Community Impact

    From June 2025 through June 2026, the GROW NC Project achieved a huge amount of impact in a short amount of time.

    • DELIVERED 23 hours of direct crisis support in the wake of the storm
    • DOUBLED the size of our team with 7 new staff and over 40 event-support volunteers
    • HOSTED 350 specialized trainings, workshops, and events
    • ADMINISTERED nearly 700 hours of FREE trauma-informed programming, in person and online
    • SUPPORTED over 6,000 participants across 25 Helene-impacted counties
    • CERTIFIED 10 new Resilency Ambassadors to serve across their professional networks in WNC
    • LAUNCHED 3 new trauma-informed offerings for our key audiences
    • WELCOMED around 55 resilency partners and special guests to our inaugural professional development conference
    • FEATURED in over 50 different media sites, including local press and national media channels
    • OFFERED 35 opportunities for affordable CEU credits in collaboration with Area L-AHEC
    • COMPLETED onboarding training and quality support for 81 new and existing trainers
    • PROVIDED over 300 hours of technical assistance and support to our certified trainers
    • EXPANDED visibility resulting in over 1300 new email subscribers and social media followers
    • OBSERVED over 26,000 new visitors to our updated website, resourcesforresilience.org

     

    Growing Our Capacity To Serve

    This work would not have been possible without strengthening our own organizational capacity. GROW NC Project funding enabled Resources for Resilience to expand our team, deepen regional partnerships, increase outreach efforts, and respond more effectively to community needs. This growth allowed us to serve more people than ever before while maintaining the relationship-centered approach that has defined our organization since our founding

    Perhaps most remarkably, nearly 30% of our organization’s total growth over the past eight years occurred in the 18 months following Hurricane Helene.

    The message is clear: when communities face hardship, they seek connection, support, and tools for healing. Time and again, people have turned to Resources for Resilience during moments of crisis—and that’s where we will continue to show up when it matters most.

    This growth reflects both the tremendous need across our region and the power of making resilience education accessible to everyone.

     

    Meeting The Moment

    Within days of Hurricane Helene’s landfall, our team mobilized to provide crisis support in shelters, distribution centers, and community hubs across Western North Carolina.

    As recovery needs grew, so did our response. What began as emergency support quickly evolved into one of the largest resilience education efforts in our history, bringing trauma-informed programming directly to schools, healthcare systems, nonprofits, workplaces, and community spaces while expanding virtual access across the region.

    Recognizing that recovery would take many months—and in fact, years—we remained committed to providing practical tools and compassionate support wherever they were needed most.

    Flexibility was one of the project’s greatest strengths.

    Approximately half of all programming was delivered in person throughout mountain towns and rural communities most affected by Hurricane Helene. The remainder was offered virtually, allowing participants to access support from home, work, or wherever they felt most comfortable.

    This hybrid approach enabled us to serve educators, healthcare workers, behavioral health providers, nonprofit staff, volunteers, caregivers, families, and community members across all 25 impacted counties.

    No matter where someone lived—or what challenges they faced—they had access to practical, science-based tools for managing stress and building resilience.

     

    Helping the Helpers

    Throughout the project, one priority remained constant: supporting the people who spend every day supporting others.

    Programs were intentionally designed for those experiencing high levels of stress and burnout, including:

    • First responders
    • Educators
    • Healthcare professionals
    • Behavioral health providers
    • Nonprofit staff
    • Volunteers
    • Community leaders
    • Caregivers

    By helping these professionals strengthen their own resilience, we amplified the ripple effect of healing throughout the communities they serve.

     

    Programs Created for Recovery

    As we listened to participants throughout the recovery process, new needs emerged. In response, our team developed several original programs specifically designed to support post-disaster healing.

    • Reconnecting Through Hard Times: A one-hour training to equip community members with practical tools for supporting others through stress, uncertainty, and overwhelm.
    • Resilient Family Adventure: This innovative, interactive experience combines resilience practices with hands-on, nature-based activities, helping children and caregivers reconnect through movement, joy, and shared learning.
    • Recharging Resilience: Designed for frontline helpers, healthcare professionals, nonprofit staff, and service providers, this one-day workshop focuses on burnout prevention, nervous system regulation, and sustainable self-care.

    Together, these programs expanded our ability to meet emerging community needs while creating lasting resources for future disaster recovery efforts.

     

    Real Stories. Real Healing.

    While numbers and data tell part of the story, participant voices tell the rest.

    Throughout the project, individuals shared how these programs transformed not only their understanding of stress, but also how they cared for themselves, their families, coworkers, students, clients, and neighbors.”

    “Thank you for the important work you are all doing! I have felt forgotten since the storm. And I get it. There’s so many others in crisis. But we’re still trying to recover. The recognition of this was so important to me. This affects all of us. For years to come. And it will keep happening. And being in the room with others going though it who believe differently or vote for different people was powerful. This doesn’t happen a lot. We can heal together and we have tools to do it. I think that people that live in bigger cities think other people have heard of this or have some kind of access to this information. We do not. It is new for us. Thank you. Keep it up!  (Recharging Resilience Participant)

    “The trainers created a space where it felt comfortable to share, to feel, to check in with myself and how I’m feeling w/o the pressure i put on myself to put that stuff away.” (Reconnect for Resilience Participant)

    “I left feeling seen, heard, and taken care of. I felt happy and energized from engaging and practicing the tools rather than many workshops and trainings have you feeling dumped on, drained, and depleted. ” (Leading Through Hard Times Participant)

    “The training was a wonderful and calm experience, especially after a community tragedy. We are helpers and don’t have access to these (tools and resources). How does that make sense? I wish there was more (support) for helpers.” (Recharging Participant)

    “There have been so many tragedies in our community and it feels like people do something for a second and then move on. But offering these tools was like I could face another day helping others. I wish more people saw that we need help too. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.” (Recharging Participant)

    Each of these stories remind us that resilience is not about avoiding hardship. It’s about creating spaces where people feel connected, supported, and equipped with practical tools they can carry into everyday life.

     

    Growing Beyond Western North Carolina

    While RFR has been doing this work since 2017, the growth and visibility we’ve received post-storm has helped even more people learn about our mission, discover our programming, and understand why community-based mental health support matters.

    During this project, Resources for Resilience was featured by numerous local and national media outlets—including CNN, NPR, FEMA, FOX, WLOS, and many others—for our trauma-informed approach to disaster recovery.

    We are grateful to all of these media partners for helping us tell our story so that we can continue to sustain this work for years to come.

    This recognition helped elevate the importance of resilience education across the nation, and positioned Western North Carolina as a model for community-centered recovery.

    Disaster recovery is never measured in weeks or months. It is measured in relationships—communities that continue showing up for one another, individuals who discover the strength to keep moving forward, and countless examples of neighbors helping neighbors and remembering they are not alone.

    Looking Ahead

    While Resources For Resilience’s funding from the GROW NC Project has come to an end, our mission continues.

    As we transition back to a sustainable model supported by grants, partnerships, contracts, and affordable program registration fees, we remain committed to making resilience education accessible to all.

    To the GROW NC Office, NCDHHS, Vaya Health, as well as every participant, volunteer, partner organization, funder, and supporter who believed in this work: THANK YOU!

    You made this level of regional impact possible. Together, we have helped build stronger, healthier, and more resilient WNC, and we look forward to continuing this work for years to come.

     

    “For me, this has been one of the most unforgettable years in RFR’s story. And probably in my own life. 

    I still remember the email that came through on March 27, 2025. It shared that $2 million had been allocated from the Governor’s Recovery Office of WNC for Resources for Resilience to offer our programming and outreach across the region. 

    By April 10, just eight working days later, we had a project proposal out the door. Eight days to meet, to dream, to build something meaningful with a focus on supporting the helpers of Western North Carolina.

    We put our vision together, crossing our fingers and toes that it could work. We knew we needed to double our team size and take an approach we had never taken before. 

    I remember thinking early on, “How are we ever going to pull this off?” Then a few months in it had shifted to, “Are we actually going to pull this off?” And then eventually… “Oh my gosh, yes! we are pullingt his off andin the best way possible!”

    And the truth is, this only happened because of every single person on this team. 

    We rode the waves together, and we were never alone in it. We showed up for each other. We listened. We made space for the hard moments with compassion. And we celebrated, again and again, the big wins and the small ones too. We truly walked the walk of our RFR tools.

    Every mile traveled, call made, meeting attended, trainer supported, receipt submitted, huddle held, materials counted. Every community conversation, every social post, every calendar entry, each effort small and large.

    All of it mattered. All of it made this project possible. 

    We may not know exactly what the future will look like exactly. But we do know this: we were part of something big. Something meaningful. And we did it, together.

    And that doesn’t just end here. We carry this with us, the impact, the connection, the growth, the exhaustion, and the exhilaration. We carry it as part of who we are now, and as part of this RFR community that continues forward.”

    Ashley Putnam, Director of Partnerships & Programming

    Building Resilient Families with the WNC Bridge Foundation

    July 13, 2026 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

    Resources for Resilience Awarded IMPACT Grant to Expand Family Programming Across Western North Carolina

    Resources For Resilience is excited to announce that we have been awarded an IMPACT Grant from the WNC Bridge Foundation to expand our  family-centered programming designed to help children and caregivers build resilience together.

    Families throughout our region continue to navigate the lasting effects of Hurricane Helene. While many immediate needs have been addressed, the long-term impacts of stress, disrupted routines, financial strain, and caregiver burnout remain. This funding allows us to respond to those ongoing challenges by bringing practical, prevention-focused mental wellness resources directly into communities where they are needed most.

    Since Hurricane Helene, Resources for Resilience has provided resilience education to thousands of caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, first responders, and community members across Western North Carolina. That work revealed a growing need for family-centered, preventive mental health support—especially in rural communities where access to services can be limited.  RFR’s youth and family-focused programming was created in direct response to those conversations.

    “Even the most resilient families can benefit from accessible tools, supportive relationships, and chances to reconnect and reset. This investment from WNC Bridge Foundation allows us to bring those opportunities to more communities and help families build skills they can use every day.”

    Ann DuPre Rogers, RFR Executive Director

    Community-Based Experiential Events

    Through this grant, Resources For Resilience will host four (4) Resilient Family Adventures in rural and underserved communities between August 2026 and June 2027. Each event is designed to be welcoming, interactive, and accessible for families of all ages.

    During each Adventure, families participate in hands-on activities that teach practical resilience skills through movement, play, connection, and shared learning. Children and caregivers will explore simple strategies for managing stress, strengthening emotional regulation, and building healthy relationships—all grounded in neuroscience and presented in engaging, everyday language.

    Every event will also include a shared community meal, bilingual resources and support, take-home resilience toolkits, and opportunities to connect with local organizations.

     

    Valuable Educational Programming

    Alongside the in-person community RFA events, RFR will also host up to to six(6) Resilient Families programs to provide continuing education and reinforce skill-building.

    These FREE 1-hour presentations will be offered in both virtual and in-person formats for parents to learn how stress manifests in children and teens, discover how to spot problems early on, and explore simple tools to boost connection and support.

    Register for an upcoming date, and stay tuned for additional opportunities throughout the year:

    Strengthening Communities Together

    This generous grant will support an estimated 400–700 children and caregivers across WNC, while strengthening partnerships with schools, faith communities, parks, libraries, and local nonprofits throughout the region.

    By investing in prevention, connection, and practical resilience skills, the program aims to strengthen protective factors for children, increase caregiver confidence, and foster healthier, more connected communities.

    Resources for Resilience is deeply grateful to the WNC Bridge Foundation for its commitment to supporting children and families across Western North Carolina. Together, we are helping ensure that families not only recover—but continue to grow stronger, more connected, and more resilient for years to come.

     

     

    Stay tuned for upcoming RFA and RF dates by subscribing to our email newsletter, following us on our social channels,  or visiting our community events calendar.

    FREE Resiliency Education for Rutherford & McDowell Counties

    June 24, 2026 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

    Disaster Relief Grant Recipients

    Resources for Resilience is excited to announce that we have recieved a generous grant from the North Carolina Community Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund to expand our FREE educational programming in McDowell and Rutherford counties through the end of January 2027.

    This is a valuable opportunity for Helene-impacted communities to continue building foundations for long-term resilience, healing, and recovery.

    The Heart of Community

    Right now we’re looking for teams and organizations across McDowell and Rutherford counties who are interested in hosting one or more of our signature trainings or workshops that teach participants how to reduce stress, manage burnout, navigate trauma and foster long‑term wellbeing.

    Our grant timeline is limited, so we are scheduling sessions NOW! Here’s what you and your team can look forward to:

    • Priority scheduling for professional development trainings and workshops for Fall 2026 and Winter 2027.
    • Understanding of simple evidence-based tools and practices tailored to your network of community-based workers and professionals.
    • Direct support to help you plan, promote, and co-host a successful session for your internal team, or your wider community.

    To secure your participation, please complete our brief Session Request Form.

    As we build our training calendar, we welcome your input and partnership—whether through co‑hosting sessions or exploring new ways to bring resilience resources to the people you serve.

    Collaboration is central to our mission, and your feedback ensures these offerings remain meaningful and responsive to community needs.

    Visit our community event calendar to learn about upcoming FREE training opportunities.

    Thank you for the work you do and for considering this opportunity to collaborate! We’re excited about what we can accomplish together.

    About Us 

    Resources For Resilience is an Asheville–based nonprofit organization founded in 2017 to help individuals and teams navigate stress, overwhelm, and burnout. Through accessible trainings, educational workshops, and community partnerships, Resources For Resilience shares practical tools and research-informed skills that support wellbeing, connection, and long-term community health. 

     

    Last Call! WNC Residents Urged To Take Advantage of FREE Trauma-Informed Programming For Helene Recovery

    May 18, 2026 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

    With their large funding stream scheduled to end at the end of June, Resources For Resilience is urging residents to register for this free programming now, while space remains available.

    Asheville-based nonprofit, Resources For Resilience, is calling on community members across Western North Carolina to take advantage of their final weeks of FREE resiliency workshops, trainings, and community events.

    Supported by over $2 million in state and regional funding, these offerings have already reached more than 8,500 residents across the 25 counties most impacted by Hurricane Helene. Since the storm, RFR has delivered hundreds of these no‑cost trainings designed to help individuals, families, and frontline professionals regulate stress, strengthen connection, and build long‑term emotional resilience.

    Thanks to support from the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Vaya Health, and the WNC Recovery Office, Resources For Resilience has been able to provide these programs at no cost since June 2025. When this funding ends at the end of June 2026, RFR will return to a model supported by smaller grants, private contracts, and individual payments.

    Resources for Resilience is a nonprofit founded in 2017 to help individuals, teams,  families, and communities build practical skills for emotional regulation, stress management, and burnout prevention. We believe resilience grows through shared connection and learning science-backed, accessible tools that anyone can use in moments of stress.

    Why This Matters Now

    For many across Western North Carolina, the emotional and physical impacts of Hurricane Helene continue long after the storm. Resources For Resilience provides simple, evidence‑based practices that help people calm their bodies, recognize overwhelm, and respond in healthier ways — without the need for therapy, specialized training, or complex programs.

    These programs are especially beneficial for first responders, educators, healthcare workers, caregivers, and essential service providers — groups most vulnerable to burnout and chronic stress. These tools can be used in any setting, including workplaces, homes, classrooms, crisis response, and everyday life.

    Current offerings are designed to address the significant stress residents continue to experience, providing practical, research‑supported strategies that help individuals regain steadiness, strengthen regulation skills, and support collective recovery across the region.

    This work underscores the importance of consistent attention to mental well‑being, enabling people to build skills they can rely on in any environment. Recovery is strengthened through small, sustained moments of care, connection, and appropriate support, particularly during periods of heightened stress.

    From our Executive Director

    Resources for Resilience has one simple goal: to help people feel steadier, safer, and more connected in their everyday lives. 

    Our organization was founded back in 2017, years before Helene came along. And over the years, we’ve noticed how interest and demand in our programming seems to skyrocket after these big traumatic events, like the pandemic, and then the storm. We just surpassed the 30,000 mark of individuals served, and nearly 20% of that occured just in the last 18 months since Helene. We observe real growth during the most challenging times, which tells us that we’re meeting a real need for the communities we serve.

    Our programming provides very simple, practical nervous‑system regulation tools — things you can actually use in real moments of stress. We share them in an accessible way that feels judgement-free and welcoming to all, which is especially helpful for audiences who do not have any formal mental health training or background.

    These practices aren’t clinical or complicated; they’re simply skills that help people breathe easier, think more clearly, and reconnect with themselves and each other when it matters most.

    These programs have been really helpful for the individuals and groups we serve because they create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and not alone in what they’re carrying. Teachers tell us they’re calmer in the classroom. First responders say they can reset after tough calls. Parents share that they finally have tools to help their kids (and themselves) through overwhelming moments. It’s this kind of ripple effect that has the ability to strengthen whole communities.

    Since Helene, the progress has been real and visible. We’re teaching people how to find their footing again after months of uncertainty. People are starting to believe, and see first-hand, that healing is possible — not because everything is magically fixed (as we know, it’s not) but because they now have tools that help them move through hard moments instead of getting stuck in them.

    We’re incredibly honored to have had such a big year of growth through the GROW-NC project and our partnership with NC DHHS and Vaya Health. This collaboration has allowed us to bring free, trauma‑informed programming to communities across Western North Carolina at a scale we’ve never reached before.

    As this regional initiative wraps up after June, we’re holding onto hope that this is not the last time we’ll be able to offer no-cost programming. With future funding and strategic partnerships , we believe that we’ll be able to offer these opportunities again and continue making resilience tools available to everyone who needs them.

    Ann DuPre Rogers

    Resources For Resilience, Executive Director

    Last Call For These No‑Cost Events!

    Resources For Resilience is offering programming both in person at select locations across the high-country, and in convenient virtual formats so anyone can tune in from their home or office.

    Name Dates Description Location
    Community Listening Circle

    May 20

    May 27

    June 3

    June 10

    June 17

    		 1-hour session to connect and practice regulation tools in real-time Virtual
    Reconnecting Through Hard Times*

    May 21

    May 28

    June 4

    June 11

    June 18

    		 1-hour training to learn tools to help others de-stress Virtual
    Reconnect for Resilience

     

    May 21 & 22

    June 16 & 17

    		 2-day in-depth training to learn how stress affects the brain & body, and simple tools to regulate Virtual
    Reconnect for Better Days June 5 1-hour webinar to learn tools to help yourself de-stress Virtual
    Leading Through Hard Times

    June 4

    June 11

    		 1-day professional development workshop for leaders

    Blowing Rock, NC -Watauga County

    Canton, NC – Haywood County
    Recharging Resilience June 10 1-day professional development workshop for service workers & providers Spindale, NC -Rutherford County
    Resilient Family Adventure June 13 3-hour family-friendly event with hands-on activities

    Marshall, NC –

    Madison County

    Interested participants can learn more and register for these programs at the links below:

    *Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available for select events through Area L AHEC.

    Stay Connected

    As we round out the final weeks of our GROW NC Project, we want to thank all of our partners, volunteers, and participants who have made this work possible this past year.  While our services will transition back to an affordable paid model after June, we look forward to the next chapter ahead.

    Our mission, our values, our vision, and our dedication to building resilience remain as strong as ever. If you’re seeking tools for steadiness, connection, and well‑being, we’re here for you! Please follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop on what’s to come!

     

    “Now is the moment to take advantage of these offerings,” Rogers emphasized. “While this level of fully-free access will be ending for the forseeable future, we’ve been doing this work since 2017, and we’re not going anywhere.”

    Resilient Schools In Action: Supporting Students, Families, and Educators Across WNC

    April 28, 2026 | Projects & Partnerships, Resources for Resilience

    Since 2017, Resources for Resilience has partnered with more than 60 schools across North Carolina. Through Resilient Schools in Action, we are expanding our reach to school districts throughout the 25 counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Funding provided by Americares makes it possible to support the wellbeing of students, staff, and families at no cost to participating schools.

     

    Today’s schools face growing challenges as educators, students, administrators, and families navigate stress, mental health concerns, and the demands of teaching and learning. Supporting school wellbeing requires more than a one-time training. It requires a sustainable approach that strengthens skills, relationships, and support systems over time.

    Resilient Schools in Action (RSA) was designed to meet that need. Developed by Resources For Resilience, the program helps students, staff, and families build resilience through professional development, coaching, peer leadership, and a comprehensive toolkit aligned with existing social and emotional learning initiatives.

    In partnership with Americares, Resources For Resilience is bringing this opportunity to Helene-impacted schools across Western North Carolina, equipping communities with tools and resources that support long-term wellbeing and recovery.

    Local School Partnerships

    In spring 2026, elementary schools across WNC were invited to apply for the inaugural RSA cohort. Interest far exceeded available spots!

    We are excited to partner with the following schools for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond:

    • West Marion Elementary (McDowell County)
    • Mulberry Elementary (Wilkes County)
    • Scotts Creek Elementary (Jackson County)
    • Wilkesboro Elementary (Wilkes County)

    “We just wanted you to know that we really appreciated your time, knowledge, and presence last week during our (Reconnect for Resilience) training. It definitely helped us get started on the right foot this year. Our staff members are already sharing their resources. Thank you again!”

    Mulberry Elementary Educator

    A Schoolwide Strategy

    Resilient Schools in Action is built on the belief that resilience grows through strong relationships and supportive environments.

    The program promotes stronger connections among staff, students, administrators, and caregivers and others in the school community.

    By strengthening these relationships, schools foster a culture of belonging, wellbeing, and resilience. Together, these groups create a sustainable network of support that extends beyond individual trainings.

    Building Capacity From the Inside Out

    At the heart of RSA is a capacity-building model that develops resilience leaders within each school. By the end of the program, schools have a team of trained internal champions who can sustain resilience practices, support staff wellbeing, and strengthen school culture for years to come.

    Participating schools receive:

    • In-depth training for 4-5 staff members to become certified Resiliency Ambassadors, equipping them to integrate practical, science-based resiliency tools throughout the school community.
    • Monthly coaching and technical assistance to build internal capacity, support implementation, and strengthen long-term mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Support includes stipends for participating staff, CEU credits and more.
    • A comprehensive implementation toolkit that helps schools embed resilience into everyday practice through:
      • Quarterly focus areas, themes with small, actionable activities
      • Staff microlearning sessions facilitated by Resiliency Ambassadors
      • Monthly cohort meetings for collaboration, peer learning, and ongoing support
      • Classroom and schoolwide resilience materials
      • Six mini-decks for staff and leadership engagement
      • Four messaging guides to support communication and implementation
      • Three family newsletters that extend resilience learning beyond the classroom

      The RSA Pathway

      The two-year program pathway includes four key stages:

      Step 1: Reconnect for Resilience™ Training

      Interested participants complete a 14-hour foundational training delivered over two days or through modular sessions.

      Step 2: Resiliency Champions Certification

      Five to six Resiliency Champions serve as enthusiastic adopters and advocates for the work. This seven-hour workshop helps participants deepen their understanding of resilience and prepare for implementation.

      Step 3: Resiliency Ambassadors Certification

      Up to five Resiliency Ambassadors  receive in-depth training to help integrate practical, science-based resiliency tools throughout the school community. This 14-hour advanced workshop is designed to prepare individuals for long-term leadership within their schools.

      Step 4: Full Implementation

      This training progression equips participants with the knowledge, experience, and support needed to create lasting change. Successful Resiliency Ambassadors

      • Work directly within the participating school
      • Demonstrate commitment to resilience-building efforts
      • Influence colleagues and facilitate presentations
      • Implement RSA strategies and support schoolwide adoption

      Students thrive in their learning and relationships when there is a sense of belonging and support

      Healthy, happy, thriving students don’t happen by accident. They happen when educators and families work together to foster connection and support. Building resilient communities is about creating spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, valued, empowered, and equipped to succeed.

      A Vision for Lasting Change

      Resilient Schools in Action empowers schools to embed resilience into daily practice through leadership development, coaching, practical tools, and relationship-centered strategies.

      By investing in educators, students, administrators, and families, RSA helps schools create environments where wellbeing, connection, and resilience can thrive for years to come.

       

      Stay Tuned for More!

      We look forward to sharing more information as this program progresses. Please stay tuned for updates by following our social media channels or subscribing to our newsletter!