NEWTON, N.J. (Sussex County) — Project Self-Sufficiency will offer a series of free virtual workshops this winter aimed at educating the public about adverse childhood experiences, supporting trauma survivors and promoting prevention and healing within the community.
The nonprofit organization announced it will host three online presentations focused on understanding childhood trauma and building resilience. The programs will be offered in both English and Spanish and are open to the public.
A virtual presentation titled “Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities” is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. The session will examine the neurological and biological effects of adversity on child development and its broader impact on population health.
Project Self-Sufficiency will also offer the workshop and discussion series “Connections Matter,” which focuses on childhood trauma and resilience. The program will be held in English on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 2 p.m., and in Spanish on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 2 p.m. Participants will discuss strategies for protection, prevention and promoting resilience within the community.
All workshops will be hosted on Zoom and are free to attend. Interested participants may call 973-940-3500 to receive login information.
During the “Understanding ACEs” workshop, parents, caregivers and community providers will learn how childhood trauma affects physical and neurological development and explore methods to improve health and well-being throughout life.
The “Connections Matter” curriculum encourages providers, parents and community members to build caring relationships to strengthen resilience. Discussions will focus on how positive connections can help buffer the negative effects of trauma. The training is designed for parents and providers who raise or teach school-aged children.
All three workshops are funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and will be led by Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey.
Adverse childhood experiences, commonly referred to as ACEs, generally fall into three categories: abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. Research has linked ACEs to a range of long-term health and behavioral outcomes, including substance use, chronic disease and mental health challenges. It is estimated that about 67% of the population has experienced at least one adverse childhood experience.
Project Self-Sufficiency officials said the workshops are intended to bring together professionals, parents and providers committed to addressing the long-term effects of childhood trauma.
“Our goal is to help make our community a place in which every child can thrive by providing education and training on adverse childhood experiences and assuring safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments,” said 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, and reduce public and private costs now and for future generations.”
