ACEs comes to Capital District

On April 11th, Melissa T. Merrick, Ph.D from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA and Ms. Marjorie Sims, managing director of the Ascend Program at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. shared their observations during an interesting and inspiring pre-Symposium information session at the New York State Capitol for legislators and members of their staff as well as others from state agencies responsible to the human service sector. They were joined by David Wallace, LaSalle’s clinical director to present information and answer questions about the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the overall population and their affects on school completion unemployment.

View photos from the April 11th NYS Capitol Information Session >>

The next day, Merrick, Sims, and two LaSalle staff presented to 500 at the University at Albany’s Performing Arts Center – site of the 3rd Annual Capital District Symposium on ACEs. LaSalle presenters were Camela Steinke, Ph.D, the agencies program assessment and effectiveness research specialist, and Dina McManus, LCSW-R, associate clinical director. An app allowing real time responses enabled participants to engage in the afternoon’s vicarious trauma presentation delivered by Steinke and McManus.

View photos from the April 12th ACEs Symposium held at UAlbany >>

A Certificate of Completion was also made available to attendees not registering for CE credits but needing documentation of their attendance at the Symposium.

LaSalle School is a leader in programs and services for youth and families in crisis offering a variety of programs designed to meet their needs including specialized residential placement, day service education, and alternative to detention services. The Counseling Center at LaSalle is an OMH and OASAS licensed outpatient behavioral health clinic located at LaSalle School, and currently implementing ACE treatment practices with youth and families. LaSalle is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), and affiliated with the Council of Family and Child Caring Agencies (COFCCA), and the national Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. LaSalle is a member of The New York State Coalition of 853 Schools.