WV ACES Coalition launches availability for new program

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The availability to participate in the WV ACES Coalition new Connections Matter program is now open.

The coalition, standing for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), is opening up training for the program to help counselors, teachers, law enforcement, and others dealing with children daily in communities to support their efforts.

The training teaches how stress impacts the brain and why relationships improve individual and community well-being.

“There’s a lot of research that shows how trauma impacts brain development in a very adverse way that impacts not only mental health but physical health,” Barb Brady, Awareness Task Team Chair of the ACES Coalition said.

Brady said the training is open to anyone willing to make an impact on the community including faith-based organizations, schools, community leaders, and parents.

She said the best question to ask someone involved with youth daily is what can they do to assist communities.

“We look at ways to assist with community mapping, what resources are already available in the communities, to support families, and to help each individual attending the training look at what can I do personally to support families with adverse childhood experience,” Brady said.

The ACEs Coalition of WV includes over 70 different organizations and individuals, according to a release.

Training in the program starts with an ACES 101 Awareness Training provided in a 15 minute or 1-hour format that introduces the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences through awareness and education. According to the coalition, the first step of training is the foundation before attending a Connections Matter resiliency training. Connections Matter offers interactive, evidence-based workshops longer in length from 2 to 8 hours.

“There are lots of state initiatives where there are programs and resources available but it never really makes it down to the community level,” Brady said. “This is a critical program for supporting communities to build communities.”

To request training, anyone click HERE.





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