At the Trust, we work to help rural communities thrive, and that starts with supporting children’s social and emotional well-being, especially those impacted by toxic stress. Evidence continues to emerge about the negative social-emotional and health impacts of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress. Young children who have experienced significant trauma and toxic stress are more likely than their peers to have developmental delays and difficulty with self-regulation, which impacts their health and well-being. To address this, the Trust plans to support community engagement, awareness, and system change efforts that directly engage the communities most impacted by trauma and toxic stress in Robeson, Columbus, and Bladen counties.