July 21, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Katie Gardella, Director of Resource Development and Community Engagement, Monadnock United Way
katie@muw.org, 603.352.4209 ex. 27
MUW Investors Group makes grant to Hinsdale Police Department’s ACERT Program
Keene, NH – The Monadnock United Way Investors Group, a group made up of 15 community members who pool their money to donate to projects related to children, education, and financial stability, has chosen to award $4,500 to the Hinsdale ACERT program.
ACERT, or Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team, is a program created by the Manchester, NH police department and has its roots in the evidence-based Yale-New Haven Child Development-Community Policing Program. When children are regularly exposed to stressful, traumatic situations, called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE), they are more likely to experience negative impacts to their emotional, cognitive, and physical development. After first responders have been called to a home where children reside, ACERT Team members engage with the family to ensure the children are offered support and services to help mitigate the impact of trauma exposure.
The Hinsdale ACERT Planning Team began meeting monthly in March of 2021. Participants include the Hinsdale Police Department, Hinsdale School District, the elementary and middle/high schools, and community partners, including MUW. Police Chief Charles Rataj, who experienced ACERT in another NH community, championed the program. He said, "We are thrilled and very thankful to receive this gift from the Monadnock United Way's Investors Group! The funds will be put to good use and go toward the salary of a new police social worker that will coordinate efforts for the Hinsdale ACERT program."
The MUW Investors Group is a program that educates members about evidence-based strategies that local agencies are using to move the needle in our community, then allows the group to choose a strategy in which to invest their money. MUW staff present information on strategies that support our three focus areas: children, education, and financial stability.
The group will meet again in October to select recipients for a second round of funding. For more information, contact Katie Gardella at katie@muw.org.
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About Monadnock United Way
Monadnock United Way is a nonprofit that funds and provides professional support to local programs and initiatives working to support children, improve educational outcomes and help individuals facing financial challenges. Recent research has shown some of the Monadnock Region’s most pressing problems are around child neglect, low academic performance and low wages. MUW brings together the organizations already working to solve these problems to best serve people in our region.