Get Free Bankruptcy Advice

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will host a free, virtual Bankruptcy seminar featuring attorney Steve McNally, Thursday, January 30^th, 5:00 p.m.  Participants will discuss the process of filing for bankruptcy, as well as the options available to those facing overwhelming credit card debt, foreclosure, or asset repossession with an attorney.  The free legal education seminar is a program of the Journey Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency.  The presentation is free and open to the public; interested participants must call Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500, to obtain log-in information.

Prom Dress Donations Needed

 

Project Self-Sufficiency is seeking donations of new and gently used formal wear, including prom dresses, bridesmaids’ dresses, gowns for mothers-of-the-bride, evening bags, jewelry, wraps and shawls, as well as shoes in good condition for display in the agency’s annual “Sister-to-Sister” Prom Shop.  The dresses must be dry cleaned and on a hanger. All items will be displayed in a boutique pop-up shop housed on Project Self-Sufficiency’s Newton campus; teen girls are invited to select shoes, wraps and jewelry to complement their dress. The Sister-to-Sister Prom Shop will be open 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., April 1^st, 2^nd, 3rd; 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., April 4^th; and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., April 5^th. Open to the public; no appointment required.

 

“The community has been particularly supportive of the ‘Sister-to-Sister Prom Shop’ every year, and we hope to have a large collection of beautiful gowns and accessories for display,” commented Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We believe that every young woman deserves the chance to have a beautiful dress for that special, once-in-a-lifetime event, and we are looking forward to opening the prom shop in April.”

 

Donations will be accepted at Project Self-Sufficiency, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.  The Sister-to-Sister Prom Shop is a program of the Journey Family Success Center at Project Self-Sufficiency.  For information about the Sister-to-Sister Prom Shop, or to find out more about any of the programs at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500 or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Learn about Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will offer three workshops during January and February regarding adverse childhood experiences with the goal of educating the public, supporting trauma survivors, and offering tips for prevention and healing within the community.  A virtual “Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities” presentation on Wednesday, January 29^th, 2:00 p.m., will address the neurological and biological effects of adversity on development and its corresponding impact on the health of the overall population. The workshop and discussion series, “Connections Matter”, which facilitates the conversation about issues surrounding childhood trauma, will be offered virtually in English, Tuesday, February 11^th, 2:00 p.m., and in Spanish, Wednesday, February 12^th, 2:00 p.m.  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 are invited to call 973-940-3500 to receive log-in details. 

 

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

 

The Connections Matter curriculum invites providers, parents, and community members to build caring connections to improve resiliency.  Discussion during the workshops will focus on understanding adverse childhood experiences and demonstrating 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.  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 adverse childhood experiences on social, emotional, and cognitive development, and offer tips and strategies for building resilience.  Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) 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.

 

Project Self-Sufficiency is bringing 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 and assuring 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, and reduce public and private costs now and for future generations.”