Free New and Gently Used Prom Dresses Available

 

Teens are invited to select free, new, or gently-used prom dresses and accessories from the popular “Sister-to-Sister” Prom Shop hosted by Project Self-Sufficiency.  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 are all available at no charge.  All items are displayed in a boutique-like setting on Project Self-Sufficiency’s Newton campus, and space is available for dresses to be tried on.  The public is invited, and no appointment is needed.  The “Sister-to-Sister” Prom Shop will be open 3:00 – 7:00 p.m., April 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd; 3:00 – 6:00 p.m., April 4^th; and 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., April 5^th.

 

“We are delighted to be offering teens the opportunity to receive beautiful gowns and accessories free of charge at the ‘Sister-to-Sister’ Prom Shop,” 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.  Thanks to generous donations from the community, we are fortunate to have hundreds of beautiful items in our collection again this year.”

 

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 the Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will offer three workshops during March and April 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, March 26^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, April 15^th, 2:00 p.m., and in Spanish, Wednesday, April 16^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.”

Unique Event for Expectant and New Parents

 

Pediatrician Dr. Christian Canzoniero will headline a special Pregnancy & Infancy Summit at Project Self-Sufficiency, Saturday, March 15^th, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This unique event will spotlight important issues faced by expectant and new parents during pregnancy and through a child’s early years; free baby items, prizes and giveaways will also be offered.  

 

Participants at Project Self-Sufficiency’s Pregnancy & Infancy Summit can receive one-on-one coaching sessions with trained parenting experts, learn about online resources for tracking their child’s development, and get up-to-date information about car seat safety, breastfeeding, nutrition, childbirth, doula services, pediatric occupational therapy, and more. Professional photos will be taken by photographer Julian Huarte.

 

“The Pregnancy & Infancy Summit invites expectant parents and mothers and fathers of young children to gain valuable information about pregnancy and child development, along with expert advice about health and wellness,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “We are excited to be able to offer an opportunity for these families to gain the information and resources they need to become successful parents.”

 

In addition to pediatrician Dr. Christian Canzionero, representatives from several organizations will be on hand to offer additional information to mothers and parents of young children, including Project Self-Sufficiency’s Nurse Family Partnership team, occupational therapist Barbara Cheuvront, nutritionist Karla Hamal, lactation consultant Jacqulyn Potter, Macaroni Kids, NJ Safe Kids, and the Partnership for Maternal Child Health.

 

Free and reduced cost activities for families and other topics related to early childhood health, safety and education will also be explored. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. The Pregnancy & Infancy Summit supplements Project Self-Sufficiency’s robust programs for pregnant women and parents of young children, including home visitation programs, Baby Beginnings events, Mommy Parties, and Parent Cafes. To register for the Pregnancy & Infancy Summit, to discuss your parenting needs, or to find out more about other programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500.