GUELPH – Parents, community members and human service professionals will have a better understanding of how to increase resilience, thanks to the launch of the .
Recently launched by the Adverse Childhood Experiences Coalition of Guelph and Wellington (ACEs Coalition), the project includes a series of five online training modules.
Adverse childhood experiences are stressful or potentially traumatic events such as abuse, neglect or household dysfunction that may happen in a child’s life before the age of 18.
Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County received a $75,000 SEED grant funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to support the work of the ACEs Coalition.
“As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Guelph, I want to congratulate Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County for supporting the work of the ACEs Coalition, and on being recognized by the Ontario Trillium Foundation,” said MPP Mike Schreiner.
“This valuable seed grant has ensured the successful launch of the Building Community Resilience Project.
“Working together and with other great community partners, I have faith that the ACEs Coalition will continue to reduce childhood risks and protect the health and wellbeing of the next generation.”
Schreiner and an OTF representative, Joe Atherton was present at the online program launch, which included a webinar discussion from a leading expert in the field, as well as a local school principal, physician and two outreach workers.
“ACEs are a potential threat to long-term health and wellbeing, but we can work against that threat together,” said Sheila Markle, Family and Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County executive director.
“The connections we feel to family, friends, community and culture are protective factors that strengthen resilience, our ability to ‘bounce back’ from difficult times. These training modules will empower people to understand that.”
The modules launched by the group are designed to promote a more resilient community that prevents and reduces the effects of adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress.
Designed to share information and resources throughout Guelph-Wellington, the program is now available to a much broader audience since COVID-19 created a shift toward online platforms.
“The information and tools made available in this training are intended to help people shape more resilient communities,” Markle said.
“These efforts are especially important now, as so many people cope with the secondary effects of the pandemic.”
The ACEs Coalition of Guelph and Wellington is a group of 12 partner organizations that envision a resilient community that prevents and reduces the effects of ACEs.
To learn more about ACEs and access the online resources, visit www.acescoalition.ca.
