Women United funding new Resilient Lehigh Valley program
Women United’s Emerging Needs Fund has invested in a pilot program in partnership with Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley and Resilient Lehigh Valley. Trauma informed, Restorative Practices, Emotional Intelligence and Equity (T.R.E.E.) training is a 6-week training session provided for 20 parents and caregivers of early childhood or school aged children in the Allentown area. T.R.E.E. is a parent empowerment program designed to raise awareness of trauma and its impact on brain, body and behavior; equip parents and caregivers with tools to promote healing, positive parenting, healthy coping skills; and build self agency to advocate for self, family and community.
The sessions are going to be held in person at Life Church in Allentown and led by trainers: Dr. Hasshan Batts, Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, Allentown Councilwoman Cynthia Mota, and Guillermo Lopez, Owner of G-Pez Consulting. Participating families receive information with the tools and activities learned as well as a journal to record their goals, learnings and progress. Families will also be provided dinner at each session and a gift card upon the start and completion of the program.
A team from Lehigh University’s Counseling Psychology Program within their College of Education will be utilizing two established measurement tools to evaluate the program. They will be focusing on parent skill development and building self-agency. A full report of findings from the Lehigh University team will be available in the Fall.