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The Key to Resilience

Giving every child a good childhood

Find new understanding and ideas to help kids overcome some of life's bumps in the road.

Start by watching the professional documentary 'Resilience', which examines Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how they affect our health as adults. This movie will be available to stream online anytime over the weekend of March 13-14. 

Follow up two days later with a community discussion by panelists from the fields of education, mental health, law, and social services where we'll explore Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)and how they can be successfully treated as well as prevented in the first place.

You will be sent a survey to fill out after watching the movie that will steer the panel discussion.

This event is sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Early Childhood Advisory Council with funds from the Maryland State Department of Education Local Early Childhood Advisory Councils Quality Improvement Grant. Register with an email address to receive the streaming link to the film and a Zoom link to the panel discussion.

Panelist information:

Dr. Ocie Watson-Thompson
Professor, Department of Early Childhood Education, College of Education, Towson University

Dr. Ocie Watson–Thompson has been an educator for over forty years with twenty-seven years of them at Towson University where she once served as the Chair of the Department of Early Childhood. She is an advocate for equitable, quality, educational opportunities and services for all. Dr. Watson-Thompson’s priority as an educator of teachers in early childhood education has been the mentorship, preparation, and professional development of emerging teachers/practitioners. As a faculty member in higher education, area coordinator and teacher in the public school system of Alabama, Dr. Watson-Thompson also supervised pre-service teachers and teachers.

Alycia Stack, Esquire
Partner at Williams, McClernan, & Stack

As a staff attorney at the Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy, then later as a partner at Williams, McClernan, & Stack, Alycia Stack has represented families and children in Southern Maryland since 2009. She has supported families through times of crisis. Alycia is experienced across the spectrum of family law, from divorce to domestic violence to adoption. She has a depth of understanding of family trauma & violence, child abuse & neglect, and the effects of substance abuse on family responsibilities. Alycia has often represented children, both as a Child in Need of Assistance attorney for three and half years with Maryland Legal Aid, and as a Best Interest Attorney appointed by the court.

Dr. Janna Chevon Thompson
Assistant Professor, Director of Recruitment, Department of Educational Studies, St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Dr. Janna Chevon Thompson is currently teaching courses in Early Childhood as an Assistant Professor in the Educational Studies Department at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Previously, she taught early childhood, special education, elementary education, and secondary education majors at Towson University. Additionally, Dr. Thompson has over fourteen years of public school teaching and leadership experiences. She was appointed a lead teacher for fine arts in the Baltimore City Public School System. In this role, Dr. Thompson planned and developed curriculum and implemented professional development sessions for teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade). Finally, Dr. Thompson remains intellectually curious about best practices for all students, from all socioeconomic backgrounds.

Robin M. Schrader LCSW-C
Mental Health Services Coordinator for St. Mary's County Schools

Robin Schrader is qualified in Trauma-Focused -Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She obtained a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Austin Peay State University and a Master's in Social Work with a focus on Children, Youth, Families, and School Social Work Practice from Southern Illinois University. Robin, a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical, is currently serving as the Mental Health Coordinator for St. Mary's County Public Schools. She has provided numerous trainings to staff and families on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and training on the impact of trauma on the brain. Robin was a member of the former St. Mary's County ACE's committee. She now sits on the Violence, Injury, and Trauma community committee.

Jennifer Voorhaar, LCSW-C
Owner/Therapist of Hope and Healing Psychotherapy, LLC

Jennifer Voorhaar is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical, Board Approved Social Work Supervisor with a certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and trained in Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience working with children, teens, and their families, helping them navigate trauma, and the impact of trauma on growth and development. During her career, Jennifer has worked with child protective services, foster care, outpatient mental health, long-term care and military family services. For the past 3 years, Jennifer has been in private practice serving the needs of the community through individual, marriage and family counseling with an emphasis on finding hope and healing from the effects of trauma.

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