Get Expert Advice about Water Safety for Kids

 

Expectant parents and those with young children are invited to receive timely information about water safety for infants and children during a Baby Beginnings Fair facilitated by representatives from the Sussex County YMCA at Project Self-Sufficiency, Thursday, July 23rd, 1:00 p.m. Attendees will also be able to access the resources they need to be successful, including free and reduced cost activities for families, information about early childhood health and development, positive parenting techniques, and other topics. Lunch will be provided along with free baby items, prizes and unique giveaways. The Baby Beginnings event is part of a Family Connects NJ program which supplements Project Self-Sufficiency’s robust programs for pregnant women and parents of young children, including home visitation programs, monthly Mommy Parties, and Parent Cafes. Pregnant women and parents of young children are invited to call 973-940-3500 to register.

 

“Taking advantage of the cooling effects of area lakes, pools, and rivers is an exciting prospect for many families during the summer months and we are grateful to offer this information session to the community,” explains Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director of Project Self-Sufficiency.  “Pregnant women and parents of young children have a great need for accurate information about a host of topics, and the Family Connects NJ Baby Beginnings Fairs will allow them to receive up-to-date health and wellness advice, as well as free items for baby and family.”

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will be joined by representatives from the Partnership for Maternal Child Health, and Zufall Health.

 

To register for the Family Connects NJ Baby Beginnings Fair, to discuss your early childhood parenting needs, or to find out more about other programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500. 

New School Supplies Needed for Local Families

 

Project Self-Sufficiency is seeking donations of new school supplies for distribution to more than 500 children and teens during the month of August.  Organizers are suggesting that donors sponsor a backpack for students in need; a $25 donation will purchase and fill a small backpack with the key supplies needed for elementary school students while a $50 donation will purchase and fill a large backpack with key supplies for middle and high school students.  Monetary donations, which allow the agency to purchase supplies in bulk, will be gratefully received at https://www.projectselfsufficiency.org/school-supplies.  For those who prefer to shop, a wish list of items has been prepared, including new backpacks, crayons, pencils, erasers, glue sticks, scissors, pens, spiral notebooks, and loose-leaf paper.  Backpacks in solid and neutral colors are preferred.  Backpacks and supplies will be distributed to more than 500 students at a festive Back to School Fair in August and at other events throughout the school year. 

 

“The start of a new school year can be a fun, yet stressful, situation for many families,” commented Project Self-Sufficiency Chief Executive Officer Deborah Berry-Toon. “We are immensely grateful to the community for lifting up these children and families and helping to ensure that they get off to the best possible start.”

 

Those who need backpacks and school supplies are invited to call Project Self-Sufficiency, 973-940-3500, to be put on the distribution list.  Project Self-Sufficiency is located at 127 Mill Street in Newton.  For information about donating school supplies, or to inquire about any of the programs and services available at Project Self-Sufficiency, call 973-940-3500, or visit www.projectselfsufficiency.org.

Learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences

 

Project Self-Sufficiency will offer three workshops regarding adverse childhood experiences with the goal of educating the public, supporting trauma survivors, and offering tips for prevention and healing within the community.  The workshop and discussion series, “Connections Matter”, which facilitates the conversation about issues surrounding childhood trauma, will be offered virtually in English, Tuesday, July 21^st, 2:00 p.m., and in Spanish, Wednesday, July 22^nd, 2:00 p.m.  Tips for protection, prevention, and promoting resilience within the community will also be discussed.  A virtual “Understanding ACEs: Building Self-Healing Communities” presentation on Wednesday, August 19^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. All workshops are free, hosted on Zoom, and open to the public; interested participants are invited to call 973-940-3500 to receive log-in details. 

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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.”