At the start of 2023, in partnership with DCF’s Office of Resilience, the Central RAC (Regional ACEs Collaborative) distributed microgrant funding to nine projects that began their respective journeys toward launching, expanding, or transforming their programs. After eight months, we’ve seen great success with well over a thousand individuals being touched by these initiatives. From youth learning financial literacy and decision-making skills, to families spending more quality time together, to individuals becoming acquainted with introspection and building self-awareness, participants have been impacted in a variety of meaningful ways.
Throughout the spring, our Central RAC team conducted extensive outreach to spread the word about a second round of funds, receiving 65 responses, some of which were returning applicants from Round One. Now, following a regional review board in late spring and a state-level review board in the summer, sixteen projects of those 65 have been selected for funding, bringing the total number of Central RAC projects to 25! We are thrilled to begin working with each and every one of these projects to impact an even greater number of community members. The variety, depth and breadth of these programs is truly inspiring as they carry out the work of reducing ACEs, building resilience, and providing healing spaces for adults and youth in our communities. And now, this round's funded projects!
Spring Reins of Life, Hunterdon County – After securing funding for a successful Round One project, Spring Reins of Life has been awarded for a second round of funding to drive their Horses Healing Women program. Their idea is to provide psychotherapy support to survivors of domestic violence in the form of exploring the mind-body connection, with stated goals of increasing self-esteem and creating opportunities for personal growth.
Junior Achievement, Middlesex County – Junior Achievement is another organization who secured funding for Rounds One and Two. Their idea for the second round of funds is a mentorship program called High School Heroes, wherein high school students teach and mentor younger students in foundational money management skills. High school students subsequently learn the value of volunteerism and being a role model while building skills in public speaking and directing learning activities, building skills to bring to college and into the job world.
Next Gen Acting, Middlesex County – A theater mentorship course for middle and high-school age students impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences, experiential learning will include acting, dance, voice lessons and voice-over, storytelling, writing, directing, production, and a show for friends, family and community members at the conclusion of this immersive experience. There will be collaboration with a Licensed Social Worker to vet materials and teaching plans to ensure the program is appropriate for participants.
Habitat for Humanity, Somerset County – This project is a simple idea to help support families with children in small but important ways. Funds will be used to complete home repairs that families do not have the money to pay for in full. Goals include improving home safety and livability while easing financial strain and giving families the opportunity to continue building equity in their home.
College of NJ Foundation, Mercer County – This project focuses on helping community caregivers address their own ACEs to improve outcomes for children they care for. With a trauma-informed approach, the curriculum will provide learning modules, workbook exercises, facilitated journaling, discussion groups, and group processing sessions. Longer-term, the goal is to have a social network of trainers who can bring their knowledge back to their respective agencies.
JRH Foundation, Mercer County – This project is intended for young adult women ages 18-24 who have experienced some form of trauma. Once monthly, the group will meet to share their stories and bond with one another. Activities may include but are not limited to: yoga, meditation, journaling, creating vision boards, and painting. Two masters-level social workers will be in attendance for additional support and to help facilitate the groups.
Sage Horizons and Soaring Phoenix, Ocean County - An eight-week summer program for homeless youth in Ocean County, this project will be led by a diverse and experienced team of instructors. A Certified ACEs trainer will educate the youth about ACEs, the impacts, immediate and long-term, and how to mitigate trauma as youth and later as adults. A certified French instructor will conduct foreign language (writing and speaking) and cultural discovery workshops. A published writer and poet will teach youth how to journal and how to write different styles of poetry in English and French. As a culminating event, youth will organize an open mic event and perform their original work to the community.
At-Reach Foundation, Somerset County – Their innovative idea is to combine sports and “play” with a digital health platform to deliver a more holistic approach for families and children to manage the effects of ACEs. The technology hub will include resources such as mindfulness apps, virtual counseling/coaching, and telehealth, for children to better navigate their emotions. The goal is to create a supportive environment where children can improve their mental and physical health, develop resilience, and grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults.
Therapeutic Upshot, Monmouth County – This project endeavors to provide support to children and adolescents who have experienced ACEs by providing education in behavioral support, conflict resolution, critical thinking skills, coping skills, and emotional regulation with the goal of decreasing impulsive reactivity.
Light of the World Church, Mercer County – The current iteration of this comprehensive program works on food security and providing clothing and household appliances to underprivileged families. With the grant funding, they will be expanding to offer adolescent group therapy, child caregiver coaching, and quarterly workshops for adults. Adult workshops will include topics related to dietary choices, health, and financial security. Modest stipends will be given to group therapy and caregiver coaching participants to increase engagement and retention.
Potential Project – Story Boards, Mercer County – Leveraging participant interest in bike and skateboard mechanics, this project brings together elements of storytelling, entrepreneurship, engineering, and counseling/therapy to drive personal growth in participants ages 16-21. Community partnerships include two higher education institutions - Trenton Cycling Revolution, and Community Outreach Garage - to help support this initiative.
Potential Project – Healing Spaces, Mercer County – Inspired by the death of a former student in Bentrice Jusu’s multimedia program, this project is a collaborative effort between fifteen youth and numerous professionals to design healing spaces in both VR and the physical world that can be scaled and replicated. Participating youth will receive mental health services and counseling throughout the collaborative design process to bring additional awareness to the project’s focus.
Queens Academy, Middlesex County – Currently in partnership with two schools, this program is focused on providing mentorship to girls from kindergarten through high school graduation. Program components include domestic violence education, mental health and wellness, and collaborative efforts including a podcast series called “Weekly Dose of Realism”. Expanding to more schools and adding facilitators to their existing staff are their main goals for this grant.
East Brunswick Youth Council, Middlesex County – The Passport Challenge is a program that offers socialization opportunities for youth on a regular basis. Participants get their passport stamped for every event they attend, with prizes at the end of the year for those who have accumulated the most stamps. An existing program, their staff is seeking to expand its impact by making it more inclusive for youth experiencing developmental and physical disabilities. Expanding social events beyond the township of East Brunswick and varying the types of venues is another of their stated goals.
Urban Promise, Mercer County – Street Leaders, a mentorship program led by high school youth, will be bolstered by the incoming RAC funding to provide them with ACEs and trauma-informed care training. A wellness coach will be hired to develop and facilitate a mental health awareness program that will eventually be led by their Street Leaders. Last, ACEs trainings will be provided to parents and caregivers of students on a quarterly basis.
Our New Jersey communities have been significantly impacted by the first round of microgrant funding from the Office of Resilience, DCF, and the Regional Aces Collaborative; now a second round of project leaders will continue the trend of putting their community first by launching a new initiative, or building upon their current program models. We are thrilled to see an even greater diversity of innovative projects ranging from healing virtual reality spaces to skateboard storyboards and theater mentorship courses. These programs and their partnerships with other organizations illustrate that we can be of great service to our communities when we work together. Best of luck to our newly awarded projects, and thank you for your dedication to the people in your community!
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