Experts Collaborate to Educate Public about Trauma

The public is invited to an interactive workshop about the impact of adverse childhood experiences on the development of children, November 1^st, 5:30 p.m., at Project Self-Sufficiency. The gathering is part of the Pizza & PACEs series hosted by the non-profit agency which is designed to facilitate the conversation about issues surrounding Positive & Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACEs). Professional counselors Charlene Armstrong Mayer and Tierney Veliz, Center for Evaluation & Counseling, will share their expertise, offer tips for parenting techniques, and answer questions at the meeting, which will also be available by Zoom. Pizza will be provided; advance registration is required. All attendees must be vaccinated against Covid-19.

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 presentation will offer background information about adverse childhood experiences and the impact on childhood brain development. Popular therapy techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing will be addressed, along with suggested parenting techniques for children who have experienced trauma.

The new Pizza & PACEs sessions build on the work already underway at Project Self-Sufficiency. 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 at regularly scheduled workshops. The agency’s PACEs program brings 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.

The Pizza & PACEs program at Project Self-Sufficiency is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Call 973-940-3500 to register or to obtain log-in details for remote participation via Zoom. Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street, Newton.

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