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Project Self-Sufficiency to host workshops on adverse childhood experiences in November to promote community heal, resilience

Virtual Presentations Offered in English and Spanish

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

The workshop and discussion series, “Connections Matter,” facilitates conversations about childhood trauma. It will be held virtually over Zoom, with sessions in English on Tuesday, November 12, at 2:00 p.m., and in Spanish on Wednesday, November 13, at 2:00 p.m. A virtual presentation titled “Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities” will take place on Wednesday, November 20, at 2:00 p.m., addressing the neurological and biological effects of adversity on development and its impact on overall public health.

Tips for protection, prevention, and promoting resilience within the community will also be discussed. All workshops are free and open to the public; interested participants can call 973-940-3500 for log-in details.

The Connections Matter curriculum invites providers, parents, and community members to build caring connections to improve resiliency. Workshop discussions will focus on understanding ACEs and demonstrating how these connections can buffer the negative effects of trauma. The training is suitable for parents and providers of school-aged children.

During the Understanding ACEs workshop, parents, caregivers, and community providers will learn how childhood trauma impacts physical and neurological development and discuss methods for improving health and well-being throughout the lifespan. 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 offer strategies for building resilience. ACEs are categorized into three distinct types: abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Negative behaviors associated with ACEs include smoking, alcoholism, drug use, absenteeism, and lack of physical activity, which can lead to a cascade of health issues, from diabetes to cancer to suicidal thoughts. Approximately 67% of the population has experienced at least one ACE.

Project Self-Sufficiency aims to bring together professionals, providers, and parents committed to increasing awareness of the impact of childhood trauma on juvenile development, future victimization and perpetration of violence, and lifelong health and opportunity.

“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, nurturing relationships and environments,” explains Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. “Protection, prevention, and resilience promotion can profoundly improve health according to recent discoveries in neuroscience, epigenetics, and epidemiology. The tools identified in these workshops can positively impact public health, safety, and productivity, reducing public and private costs now and for future generations.”

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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