Project Self-Sufficiency to host workshops on adverse childhood experiences, focusing on prevention and healing in March and April

NEWTON, NJ (Sussex County) – Project Self-Sufficiency will host three workshops during March and April focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to educate the public, support trauma survivors, and provide tips for prevention and healing within the community.

A virtual “Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities” presentation on Wednesday, March 26th, at 2:00 p.m. will address the neurological and biological effects of adversity on development and its corresponding impact on public health.

The workshop and discussion series, “Connections Matter,” will facilitate conversations on childhood trauma and be offered virtually in English on Tuesday, April 15th, at 2:00 p.m., and in Spanish on Wednesday, April 16th, at 2:00 p.m. The series will discuss tips for protection, prevention, and promoting resilience within the community. All workshops are free and open to the public; interested participants should call 973-940-3500 to receive log-in details.

During the “Understanding ACEs” workshop, parents, caregivers, and community providers will learn how childhood trauma affects physical and neurological development and explore methods for improving health and well-being across the lifespan.

The “Connections Matter” curriculum encourages parents, providers, and community members to build caring connections to improve resiliency. The workshops will focus on understanding ACEs and demonstrating how these connections can act as a primary buffer against the negative effects of trauma. This training is ideal for parents and providers of school-aged children.

All three workshops are funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and led by Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey.

Speakers will address the impact of ACEs on social, emotional, and cognitive development and provide strategies for building resilience. ACEs are widely recognized as falling into three categories: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. These experiences can lead to behaviors like smoking, alcoholism, drug use, absenteeism, and lack of physical activity, resulting in a cascade of health issues such as diabetes, cancer, and suicidal thoughts. It is estimated that approximately 67% of the population has experienced at least one ACE.

Project Self-Sufficiency is working with professionals, providers, and parents to increase awareness of the impact of childhood trauma on development, future violence, and lifelong health opportunities.

“Our goal is to help make our community a place where every child can thrive by providing education and training on ACEs and ensuring safe, stable, and nurturing environments,” explains Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. “Recent discoveries in neuroscience, epigenetics, and epidemiology show that protection, prevention, and promoting resilience can profoundly improve health, reduce costs, and enhance safety and productivity for current and future generations.”