FEA Announces 26 Schools to Take Part in Healing-Centered Engagement to Address ACEs and Trauma

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The Foundation for Educational Administration (FEA), the professional learning division of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), has announced the 26 schools that will be a part of its Healing-Centered Engagement initiative. Funded by grants in excess of $580,000, lead partners FEA and NJEA will create free programs, including training and coaching, to help teachers, administrators, staff, families and community groups in this diverse cohort of 26 schools to introduce a Healing-Centered Engagement model to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma.

ACEs are stressful or traumatic events, including abuse, neglect, household substance use, and parental  separation, which affect children’s brain architecture and can have negative, lifelong effects on health and  well-being. In addition to stressful or traumatic events, some children also face exposure to chronic, toxic stress from historical and ongoing traumas due to systemic racism and poverty. ACEs and trauma can inhibit a child’s ability to learn, develop language skills, create healthy attachments, and form  relationships.

Below is a list of each of the schools that will participate in this healing-centered program:

HCE Schools
County
District
School
Burlington
Delran
Delran Middle School
BCSS
Burlington County Special Services SD
Camden
Bellmawr
Bellmawr Early Childhood Center
Cumberland
Bridgeton
Dr. Geraldine Foster Early Childhood Center
West Avenue School
Fairfield Township
Fairfield School
Millville
Millville Child Family Center
Essex
East Orange
Patrick F. Healy Middle School
Newark
Dr. William H. Horton Elementary School
Arts High School
Hudson
Jersey City
Anthony Infante Early Childhood Center PS #31
Dr. Maya Angelou School PS #20
Mercer
Hamilton
George E Wilson Elementary School
Trenton
Trenton 9th Grade Academy
Robbins Elementary School
Hedgepeth/Williams Middle School of the Arts
Middlesex
Carteret
Columbus School
Monmouth
Freehold Twp
Early Childhood Learning Center
Morris
Pequannock
Pequannock High School
Ocean
Ocean Gate
Ocean Gate School
Passaic
Passaic
Roosevelt School #10
Passaic High School
Paterson
Full Service Community School. PS #2
Alonzo Tambua Moody Academy
Somerset
North Plainfield
Somerset Intermediate School
Sussex
Vernon
Vernon High School

In addition, the NJ Health Initiatives will provide $75,000 that will directly fund the Mental Health First Aid component of the project. As the lead agency and convener for the  initiative, NJPSA/FEA will partner with NJEA, the Mental Health Association in NJ, the NJ Department of Education, the Office of Resilience in the NJ Department of the Children and Families, the Burke Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Princeton Area Community Foundation, and New Jersey Health Initiatives. Support and collaboration from the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund will bolster our schools in these uniquely challenging times, and provide a  foundation to strengthen our education system. 

“We are eager to begin to work with school leaders from such a diverse group of schools on this critical initiative,” said Mary Reece, FEA’s Director of Special Projects. “Together, we look forward to identifying and assisting students and adults who are experiencing ACES and other mental health issues.”

Founded in 1985, FEA is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation and the  professional learning division of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA), which has  over 8,800 members statewide. FEA provides quality professional learning and coaching to educators to  improve student achievement and engagement throughout New Jersey. Its mission is to promote sustained professional growth, support research-based practices, and enhance learning for leaders and  teachers for the purposes of equity and continuous school improvement. 

For more information, please contact Mary Reece, Director of Special Projects, at mreece@njpsa.org.