A Newark elementary school class partaking in yoga as part of the Children’s Wellness Initiative.
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ – June 13, 2022 – Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey and its nonprofit subsidiary Child Wellness Institute (ChildWIN®) — with generous support from Impact 100 Essex — brought its Children’s Wellness Initiative to five Newark elementary schools. The program was delivered from February 2021 through May 2022 and reached 1,570 children in 125 classrooms, 200 teachers, and 208 parents.
The program taught an understanding of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), trauma, educator state of awareness, co-regulation, self-care and resilience. Surveys showed improved teacher confidence in managing challenging classroom behaviors – because teachers now understand the brain science and meaning behind the behavior – and daily use of trauma-informed practices.
Dr. Dionne Ledford, Superintendent and Executive Director of Roseville Community Charter Schools, stated, “Roseville Community Charter School is privileged to have partnered with ChildWIN® this school year to enhance our school-based social emotional learning programs on behalf of our scholars, families and staff! Our grant-funded S.E.L.F. & Wellness Program was enriched by the parent workshops offered by the Child Wellness Initiative, as well as the “Peaceful Practices” student assemblies, and staff wellness sessions. At RCCS, we pride ourselves on providing an educational experience that addresses the needs of the whole child, and the Children’s Wellness initiative helped us further enhance our SEL initiatives to BEST accomplish our school’s mission.”
Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey and ChildWIN® Executive Director Gina Hernandez added, “Because of the generous support from Impact 100 Essex, we have positively affected the lives of hundreds of Essex County children, families and educators. It has been a truly remarkable experience to work alongside these five schools as they work toward becoming trauma-responsive and promote wellness for their schools and community.”
Jill Edinbug, co-Chair of the Impact 100 Essex Grant Committee stated, “We are proud to support the Children’s Wellness Initiative — especially at this critical time when pandemic stressors are affecting families more than ever. PCA-NJ and ChildWIN® have done an amazing job reaching students, teachers and parents with their innovative programming that protects Essex County children.”
For more information, please visit preventchildabusenj.org or call 732-484-9977.
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Founded in 1979, Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey promotes great childhoods, positive parenting
and healthy child development. Its programs prevent child abuse and neglect in all forms for
all New Jersey children.
www.preventchildabusenj.org
Founded in 2019, the Child Wellness Institute (ChildWIN®) builds resilience and social-emotional
health in children and families. ChildWIN® is a subsidiary of Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey.
www.childwin.org