Youth Trauma Program offers programs for children and families affected by trauma or violence

FALL RIVER — The Youth Trauma Program at JRI, located at the Fernandes Center for Children & Families of Saint Anne’s Hospital, has announced the following programs for youth who have been affected by trauma or a witness to violence, and their families.

 All programs are free of charge and held at the Fernandes Center for Children & Families, 222 Milliken Boulevard, Fall River.

Stronger Together is a six-week group that provides support and education for youth ages 11-14 who have been impacted by parental or caregiver substance disorder. Research shows that 1 in 8 children are living in a home with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder. Kids impacted by parental substance use face higher rates of emotional or behavioral difficulties and are at higher risk of engaging in substance use. To learn more about this program, contact Jennifer Salem-Russo, MSW, LICSW, jsalemrusso@jri.org, 508-674-5600, ext. 2283.

Trauma-sensitive yoga groups for children and teens: The Youth Trauma Program offers two WholeYoga groups for children who have been impacted by trauma. One program is intended for children ages 8-12; the second program is designed for teens ages 13-18. WholeYoga uses Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY), a technique developed by JRI. This highly effective body-based treatment is a research-backed strategy for complex trauma and is approved by the federal government (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). TCTSY is an opportunity to bring attention to breath and movement.. Using gentle yoga, participants can practice making choices about breath and movement, while tapping into the part of the brain that is in the here and now. Facilitated by Anne Parsons Marchant, TCTSY-F, RN, MS, CNS. For more information about these yoga groups, contact Amy Coole, MSW, LCSW, acoole@jri.org, 508-674-5600, ext. 2273.

Stop, Slow, Go: Strategies to Address Self-Regulation. Facilitated by an occupational therapist and a clinician specially trained in trauma-focused treatment, this group is for boys and girls ages 8-12 with a history of trauma, and their parents or caregivers. It provides tools and tips for managing strong feelings in healthy ways through fun and calming sensory-based activities, including trauma-sensitive yoga techniques taught by a certified clinician. For referrals or more information about this group, contact Stephanie Sayles, LICSW, ssayles@jri.org, 508-674-5600, ext. 2281.

 

About the Youth Trauma Program

Established in 1984, the Youth Trauma Program at JRI provides evaluation and counseling services to child/adolescent victims, ages birth to 21, of sexual or physical abuse and those who have lost a loved one to homicide or experienced other trauma, including violence at home, among peers, or in the community. Services include individual and family therapy; trauma assessments; specialized counseling to children with developmental disabilities who have been maltreated; community outreach and education; and group therapy. The program also offers services to non-offending family members. All services are provided free of charge. Located at the Fernandes Center for Children & Families of Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, the Youth Trauma Program is a program of JRI, a nonprofit provider of trauma-informed care to children and families in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Youth Trauma Program is partially supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA) through a 1984 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant from the Office of Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, and the US Department of Justice.

 

About Saint Anne’s Hospital

Founded by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation in 1906, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Massachusetts, is a full-service, acute care Catholic hospital with 211 beds and satellite locations in Dartmouth, Attleboro, Swansea, New Bedford, and Stoughton, Massachusetts. A member of Steward Health Care, Saint Anne’s provides nationally recognized patient- and family-centered inpatient care and outpatient clinical services to patients from surrounding Massachusetts and Rhode Island communities. In addition to bariatric surgery, Saint Anne’s key services include Center for Orthopedic Excellence; multiple robotic-assisted surgical capabilities, including orthopedic surgery, spine surgery, and general surgery; Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center; two ambulatory surgery centers; the Center for Pain Management; and inpatient geriatric psychiatry services. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.