Discuss Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Kids

 

Community members are invited to attend a virtual information session about family programs and community events available at the Fairview Lake YMCA at a meeting of the Project Sussex Kids General Council, Tuesday, November 15^th, 10:00 a.m., via Zoom.  Environmental Education & Community Programs Manager Brendan Rearer will discuss nature and the benefits of children’s involvement in outdoor experiences.  Project Self-Sufficiency staff will also provide an update on Project Sussex Kids activities.  The Fairview Lake YMCA Camps is a branch of Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges. The meeting is free and open to the public; advance registration is encouraged.  Interested participants are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency at 973-940-3500 for log-in details.

Learn how to Buffer Impact of Childhood Trauma

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will continue the workshop and discussion series, “Connections Matter”, designed to facilitate the conversation about issues surrounding Positive & Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs), with in-person sessions in Spanish, Wednesday, November 16^th, 2:00 p.m. and English, Thursday, November 17^th, 2:00 p.m.  Both workshops are free and open to the public; interested participants are invited to call 973-940-3500 to register.

 

Participants will explore the Connections Matter curriculum, a program funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and led by Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey designed to engage providers, parents, and community members in building caring connections to improve resiliency.  Discussion will focus on understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma and demonstrate how caring connections can serve as a primary buffer in the negative effects of trauma.  The training is appropriate for parents and providers raising and teaching school aged children.

 

During the on-going workshop series, trauma experts and guest speakers address the impact of adverse childhood experiences on social, emotional, and cognitive development, and offer tips and strategies for building resiliency.  Adverse childhood experiences are widely recognized as falling into three distinct categories, abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.  Examples of negative behavior said to result from ACEs include smoking, alcoholism, drug use, absenteeism, and lack of physical activity.  These behaviors can cause a cascade of physical and mental health problems, from diabetes to cancer to suicidal thoughts.  It is estimated that approximately 67% of the population has experienced at least one adverse childhood experience.

 

The agency aims to bring together professionals, providers, and parents who are committed to increasing awareness of the impact of childhood trauma on juvenile development, future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity.  “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 (ACEs) and assuring safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments,” explains Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon. 

 

Learn about the Impact of Childhood Trauma on Development

 

Parents, caregivers, and other community providers are invited to learn how childhood trauma impacts physical and neurological development and discuss methods for improving health and well-being across the lifespan, Wednesday, November 9^th, 2:00 p.m. at Project Self-Sufficiency.  The virtual “Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities” presentation will address the neurological and biological effects of adversity on development and its corresponding impact on the health of the overall population.  Tips for protection, prevention, and promoting resilience within the community will also be discussed.  Interested participants are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500, for log-in details.

 

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been identified as contributors to a host of physical and neurological ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, and depression.  They are also known to lead to mental illness, neglect, sexual abuse, and a variety of dysfunctional behaviors like substance abuse and domestic violence.

 

“Recent discoveries in neuroscience, epigenetics, epidemiology, and resilience studies, have helped us to understand how protection, prevention, and resilience promotion can profoundly improve health,” remarked Project Self-Sufficiency Executive Director Deborah Berry-Toon.  “The tools identified in this session can positively impact public health, safety, and productivity, and reduce public and private costs now and for future generations.”

 

The workshop is funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and led by Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey.  The Zoom session is free and open to the public, interested participants are invited to call 973-940-3500 to receive log-in details.