
About Resilient Jefferson County
Resilient Jefferson County is a coalition of community members whose mission is to transform our community and the health of future generations by becoming trauma-informed and preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
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The roots of Resilient Jefferson County began in March 2019 with the viewing of the film Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope. This was shown to a small group of community leaders who agreed that this was something that we needed to explore for our county. After learning about ACEs, the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County (CFMJC) became interested in the possibilities and asked the Healthy Communities Initiative, a program of the Norton King's Daughters' Health, to work with the CFMJC to obtain a $50,000 planning grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. As part of that process, Resilience was shown to over 200 people in our community. Public Sector Consultants, an organization that has conducted ACE studies, was hired and a plan was created. In October of 2020, Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded a $100,000 grant to the CFMJC to implement its plan.
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With this plan, we envision a safe, healthy, and resilient community that thrives. Over time, we will reduce the need for social services and strengthen our workforce; thereby, increasing our ability to continually reinvest in the community. We will do this through data collection, education, and advocacy for programs and solutions that build resiliency.
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COMMITMENT STATEMENT
"We envision a collaborative that can impact ACEs in Jefferson County by engaging the community to honestly address our needs by enhancing and developing systems that foster resilience to ensure quality of life for generations to come."
Why is it important for Jefferson County to address ACEs and become a trauma-informed community?
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The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) annually prepares a data book about the state of children in our community.
Here is how Jefferson County ranks in the State of Indiana (out of 92 counties):​
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3rd
for mothers reported smoking during pregnancy
11th
for children in poverty under the age of 18
12th
for single parent families
15th
for Children in Need of Services (CHINS) under the age of 18
16th
for reported child abuse and neglect cases
18th
for infant deaths under the age of 1
18th
for students receiving out-of-school suspension
23rd
for babies born prematurely
Meet Our Steering Committee
Brad Wood
Director of Operations, River Valley Resources
Brad currently oversees the daily operations for the Clearinghouse, a program of River Valley Resources (RVR). He manages several projects/programs at RVR. Brad received his Bachelors in International & Community Development from Indiana Wesleyan University. He worked in mental health and addiction treatment prior to joining RVR.
Dora Anim
CEO and President, Bethany Legacy Foundation
Dora was named as the first CEO and President of the Bethany Legacy Foundation which was created from the sale of King’s Daughters’ Health by the Bethany Circle of King’s Daughters and Sons in July 2022. Previously, she served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. Prior to that Anim served as the Senior Vice President of Programs and Services at the Health Collaborative in Cincinnati.
NADJA BOONE
Director of Marketing & Community Relations of Norton King's Daughter's Hospital
Nadja Boone, BSN, RN is the Director of Marketing, Community Relations and Development for Norton King’s Daughters’ Health (NKDH) in Madison. She has served in this capacity for over 25 years. Her leadership roles have included: American Heart Association Board of Directors in Southern Indiana and currently serves on the steering committee for Leadership Jefferson County.
AMBER FINNEGAN
State Director of Correctional Education, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
Amber Finnegan was appointed as the first Director of Jefferson County Community Corrections in 2010 which is now called Court Services. In March 2022, she became the State Director of Correctional Services for Ivy Tech Community College. She has a passion for implementing evidence-based practices and coaching leadership development.
KEITH HOWARD
Coordinator, Healthy Communities Initiative of Jefferson County
Keith has served as the Healthy Communities Initiative Coordinator since 2019. He serves on the Ivy Tech Human Services/Psychology Advisory Board and the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee. Previous work includes being the Vice President of Student Affairs for the Colorado Community College System and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs for the Northwest Region of Ivy Tech Community College.
Community Supporters
Bill Barnes
Community Foundation of Madison & Jefferson County
Nadja Boone
King's Daughters' Health
Molly Dodge
Ivy Tech Community College Madison
Amber Finnegan
Jefferson County Community Corrections
Kenny Garrett
Town of Hanover
Dr. John Hossler
Jefferson County Health Department
Rev. Bill Johnson
Greater Madison Ministerial Alliance
Phil Kahn
Prince of Peace Catholic Schools
Emily McDarment
Lifespring Health Systems - Jefferson County Office
Susan Melton
Centerstone - Madison
Margo Olson
River Valley Resources
Susan Stahl
Girls Inc. of Jefferson County
Kevin Turner
Grote Industries Inc.
Angela Vaughn
Educator
Jeff Bates
Southwestern Jefferson County Consolidated School Corporation
Mayor Bob Courtney
City of Madison
Carol Dozier
King's Daughters' Health
Heather Foy
King's Daughters' Health
Dr. Diamond Harris
King's Daughters' Health
R. Keith Howard
Healthy Communities Initiative of Jefferson County
Kori Jones
Indiana Youth Institute
Beth Lichlyter
SuperATV
Major Ben McKay
Madison Indiana Police Department
Judge D.J. Mote
Jefferson Circuit Court
Lori Slygh
Madison Consolidated Schools
Betsy Sullivan
Madison Consolidated School Corporation
Chief John Wallace
Madison Indiana Police Department