#United States #Miami #STAR Network #Trauma Recovery #ACE Science

STAR Network Foundation Hosts Global Summit

On May 22, 2026, the STAR Network Foundation will host the Scars to STARs Summit, an important global virtual event aimed at raising awareness about trauma-informed recovery. With the theme The ACEs Next 30 Years: The Future of Trauma-Informed Recovery, this summit is expected to gather participants from over 60 countries, including survivors, families, clinicians, and advocates.

The summit is scheduled to coincide with Stars Day, marking three decades since the founding of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) research, which highlighted the profound effects of childhood trauma on adult health and social outcomes. Notable speakers at this event include former U.S. Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy and Dr. Melissa T. Merrick, CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America.

This year’s summit represents a pivotal moment in mental health advocacy as the STAR Network Foundation will announce a historic integration with PACEs Connection. This new partnership will link a community of over 69,000 members and 500 chapters with STAR Network's grassroots infrastructure, forming a coordinated global movement for peer-led, evidence-based healing at an unprecedented scale.

The foundational research by Dr. Vincent J. Felitti and Dr. Robert F. Anda, whose 1998 study revealed that ACEs are the leading predictors of adult well-being, continues to shape the conversation surrounding mental health treatment. Despite these findings, access to critical recovery resources remains limited, with less than one in four adults with substance use disorder receiving the necessary treatment.

Dr. Jamie Huysman, the founder and executive director of STAR Network Foundation, states, “The science has been clear for thirty years, but what’s been lacking is access. Mental health should not be a privilege; it should be a right.” The aim of the summit is to solidify infrastructure that can tangibly benefit those who have faced trauma.

One of STAR Network's flagship initiatives is TAR Anon®, a free and peer-led virtual fellowship that meets five days a week without clinical gatekeeping. This program exemplifies the commitment to providing trauma-informed recovery services without cost to participants. The summit itself remains free to the public, although registration is required.

The urgency for awareness and action in mental health has never been greater, especially as the World Health Organization predicts that mental health issues will cost the world economy over $6 trillion annually by 2030. The Scars to STARs Summit aims to share knowledge, drive advocacy, and establish community-led solutions that address these critical challenges.

Interested participants can register for the summit on the STAR Network’s official website. There are also limited media credentials available for those who wish to cover this transformative event.

For more information about the summit and to register, visit: STAR Network's Official Site. The STAR Network Foundation is committed to building accessible, community-driven pathways to healing for survivors of toxic abusive relationships, ensuring that trauma-informed care is available to anyone, anywhere, at no cost.