$250,000 to Support Center for Child Counseling
The Board of Trustees of Quantum Foundation, under the leadership of Mrs. Donna Mulholland, recently approved eight new grants totaling more than $800,000 to nonprofits based in Palm Beach County.
Of the eight grants awarded this cycle, Quantum Foundation allocated $250,000 to the Center for Child Counseling (CCC) for the organization's work with ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). CCC is considered the leader in ACEs and Trauma Informed Training and is driving the conversation on ACEs in Palm Beach County. The grant will help support staff positions to provide educational workshops, training and consultation for teachers, caregivers and professionals about ACEs, trauma, and integration of effective strategies to promote buffers and lifelong health for babies and young children.
ACEs are situations where a child faces some sort of trauma or stress. They are associated with abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. Nearly half the children in the United States have experienced at least one ACE indicator, while one in 10 have experienced at least three traumatic events. Most of these adverse situations arise from economic hardship, violence, drugs and mental illness.
“We believe in funding programs focusing on ‘whole health’ and the wellness of the community,” said Eric Kelly, president of Quantum Foundation. “The Center for Child Counseling is an innovative organization and an agent of change. Organizations like this are a great match for our vision. We are pleased to fund this program to make Palm Beach County a better place to live.”
This grant continues Quantum’s support of CCC. “We are so grateful to Quantum for helping us lead the fight against ACEs and the lifelong effects that can follow,” said Renée Layman, CEO at CCC. “Children interpret experiences differently and we know that unless they’re able to process those experiences - especially adverse ones - in a constructive way, the result can be a lifetime of mental and physical health issues. In recent years, scientific research has shown that adverse experiences and trauma affect not only mental health but the physiological development of a young child’s brain.”
If a child scores high on the ACEs scale, counselors like those at CCC can start them on a healing journey that can dramatically improve their future mental and physical health. To learn more about ACEs, CCC’s work, or to take the quick, anonymous 10-question ACEs test, visit: www.centerforchildcounseling.org/about-us/fightingACEs. Join the conversation using #FightingACEs.