Mind Matters

Pending Approval

Mind Matters teaches people skills and practices that cultivate healing and clear away distractions to learning and healthy relationships. This program’s practical, hands-on lessons explore the effects of adversity and toxic stress along with the healing process. Each lesson, based on ACEs science, includes activities on increasing hope, overcoming adversity, and building resilience. The Appendix offers guidance to adapt each lesson in one-on-one settings, making the curriculum suitable for case workers, home visitors, mentors, and others working with individuals and families. 

The skills taught in Mind Matters are designed to be practiced over a lifetime. The curriculum is not meant to be therapy or to replace psychotherapy. Rather, it is intended to be facilitated by paraprofessionals to inspire, uplift, and set people on the journey of healing as they cultivate deeper resilience. Mind Matters can be used to prevent violence, address chronic absenteeism, and build a culture of wellness.

The lessons address the following topics:

Reference: Mind Matters – The Dibble Institute

In a study, the Mind Matters program resulted in a significant increase in coping skills and decrease in PTSD symptoms for the experimental group. There was an increase in resiliency and social competence for both groups, suggesting that the program and general treatment setting may both have contributed to improvements over time.1

Compared to other programs, Mind Matters covers co-regulations domains including2

References: 

1. RCT on Effectiveness of Mind Matters Psychoeducation Program for Trauma Related Outcomes Among At-Risk Youth
2. Self-Regulation Training Approaches and Resources to Improve Staff Capacity for Implementing Healthy Marriage Programs for Youth

Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience supports the healing process in young people who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and other traumas. This research-based curriculum offers strategies to help teens and adults understand the effects of adversity and toxic stress and teaches them skills to soothe and calm their mental and physical stress responses. Mind Matters focuses on six major goals:

References: Mind Matters – The Dibble Institute

The following table provides a breakdown of the program structure:

References: Mind Matters – The Dibble Institute

The following table provides a breakdown of the lessons in each program. For more information on the Unit Goals and Key Skills for each lesson, click the title of the programs to view online: