NEWS RELEASE
April 2, 2026
For immediate release
Media contact: Cara Scarola Hansen
Center for Child Counseling Public Relations Counsel
cara@yourmissionmarketing.com
A special screening of ‘Resilience’ and community conversation with nonprofit, higher education, and medical leaders gives hope for all children.
“Children’s lives can be different…the story doesn’t have to end the way it began.” This was the hopeful and resounding message at the recent event Center for Child Counseling (CFCC) hosted at the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute. Presented in partnership with the LaFrance Project, community members came together to reflect on their shared commitment to preventing and healing childhood adversity.
The evening featured a screening of the acclaimed documentary Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope and a thought-provoking panel discussion with community experts in the fields of neuroscience, medicine, education, the judicial system, and mental health.
The documentary uncovers one of the most important public health discoveries of our time: the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The film explores how toxic stress can alter brain architecture, increase the risk of chronic disease, and shape the trajectory of children’s lives. Just as importantly, it shines a light on proven solutions that communities are using to break cycles of adversity and build resilience.
Resilience reflects the science that has guided Center for Child Counseling’s Fighting ACEs Initiative for the past decade—revealing how early adversity affects health and development, and how informed, connected communities can create lasting change. The film reinforces a powerful message at the heart of our work: resilience grows when awareness, prevention, and supportive relationships come together.
Over the past decade, CFCC, along with its extraordinary partners, has embedded trauma-informed care into pediatric practices, school systems, judicial systems, and early childhood programs.
“We’ve helped build trauma-informed childcare and classrooms. We’ve piloted and scaled the HOPE (healthy outcomes from positive experiences) framework—because we learned that it’s not enough to count ACEs. We must build positive childhood experiences. We must give children something to run toward, not just something to run from,” stated Renée Layman, chief executive officer of CFCC.
The Center uses a data-to-action approach—one of the only integrated clinical dashboards of its kind in the nation—to identify trends, respond in real time, and measure what is actually working.
“Because behind every data point is a child. A face. A family. A story. The science has confirmed what we hoped: resilience is real. It’s biological. And it can be built,” added Layman.
Following the viewing of the film, Lisa LaFrance, investment professional turned philanthropist, moderated a discussion with the panelists, including: Dr. Randy Blakely, Ph.D., founding executive director of the FAU Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute and director of the Neuroscience Graduate Program at FAU; Dr. Eugenia Millender, co-founder and co-director of the Center of Population Sciences for Health Empowerment, assistant dean for research, and Marie Cowart endowed professor at Florida State University College of Nursing; Keith Oswald, chief of student health and wellness for the Palm Beach County School District; Mary Quinlan, chief deputy court administrator for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida; Dr. Shannon Fox- Levine, South Florida medical director at Bluebird Kids Health, medical director at Center for Child Counseling, and president of the Palm Beach County Pediatric Society.
“This panel represents something remarkable — five systems that rarely sit at the same table. The brain. The body. The classroom. The courtroom. The community. And yet, ACEs science has reached into all of them and asked the same question: how do we stop waiting for children to fall apart, and start building the conditions for them to thrive?”commented LaFrance.
Attendees gained insight into how early adversity impacts health and development; learned how local leaders are creating real change in our community; and connected with others committed to ensuring every child grows up safe, supported, and resilient. They left with the reinforced knowledge that a child’s story doesn’t have to end where it began, and every community member can play a role in writing that story of hope.
For more information on the Center for Child Counseling, how it is fighting ACEs and providing HOPE, or upcoming community events, visit centerforchildcounseling.org.
About Center for Child Counseling
Center for Child Counseling has been building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for children and families in Palm Beach County since 1999. Its services focus on preventing and healing the effects of adverse experiences and toxic stress on children, promoting resiliency and healthy family, school, and community relationships. www.centerforchildcounseling.org Twitter: @ChildCounselPBC Facebook: @CenterforChildCounseling Instagram: @childcounselpbc
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