Energy builds for ACE Symposium

At the April 12th ACEs Symposium, Ms. McManus and Dr. Steinke will present on the nature of vicarious trauma on staff caregivers to 500 assembled in the University of Albany’s Performing Arts Center. Ms. McManus summed up the presentation’s objectives and how it related to social work professionals: “What we intend to promote to our audience is an environment where traumatized youth can thrive, where staff, as the caregivers, must first ‘put the oxygen mask on themselves’ before they can ‘save the youth’ in their care.”

Before McManus and Steinke take the stage on April 12th, attendees will first hear from Melissa Merrick Ph.D from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the CDC’s perspective about the damaging effects of toxic stress and its impact on wellness as a significant public health concern. Marjorie Sims will discuss emerging support for a two generational (2Gen) focus for work with children and families. Sims is from the Aspen Institute and is the managing director of the Ascend Program. On April 11th, Merrick and Sims will share 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.

Immediately following the ACEs Symposium, staff will travel to Arlington, Virginia to be on hand for the fourth ‘Change in Mind’ convening. Beginning on April 13th, this session sponsored by the national Alliance for Strong Families and Communities will be the second directed by Washington, D.C.’s FrameWorks Institute. FrameWorks will present to LaSalle and their fellow cohort participants on the best ways to design, conduct, and publish communications research to prepare nonprofits to expand their constituency base, build public will, and further public understanding of the effects that toxic stress and ongoing trauma have on children and families.

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.