Abby’s Impact: Strengthening participants’ sense of self
The JFS Abby’s Impact: Realizing Resilience program has been reimagined with a fresh, culturally relevant take on our world today and our clients. And now, anyone over 14 can work on individual growth, build a peer support system, increase resilience, and strive to live healthier lives.
For those who believe focusing on themselves is selfish, we need to change that mindset and realize that doing so allows us to be present, build confidence, strengthen our relationships, learn about our values and prioritize them to make the right choices for us. Enter Abby’s Impact. This client-centered mental health education program provides a framework for dealing with daily stress and life’s struggles. It offers participants evidenced-based resources and tools to facilitate resilience so they can build their own mental health toolboxes. Learning coping and problem-solving skills is life-changing for those who have faced adversity and trauma.
The Abby’s Impact program includes one mandatory 90-minute introductory class that lays the groundwork for discussing resiliency and toxic stress and reviews the program structure and other courses. There is no commitment to take additional classes after the introductory session, but the initial course ensures everyone moves ahead with the same information. All subsequent classes fall within the following four themes:
Sense of Self: Exploring the relationship you have with yourself.
Self in Time: Who you are and what’s shaped you throughout your life.
Self & Others: Navigating the Relationships you have with others.
Self in the World: How you interact with the world and engage with its systems.
Classes are free to participants with funding provided from Colorado Department of Human Services and private donors. All sessions are taught by a resiliency instructor and are capped at 15 individuals to encourage a community feel and help participants build deeper connections and foster communication with each other. JFS individualized supports are in place as another layer of support, and participants will partner with their coach to define their goals, build their own resilience pathway, and find the tools and coping skills that fit best into their mental health toolbox.
“Abby's Impact is an incredibly unique program,” shared Rebekah Cole, the Abby’s Impact resiliency instructor. “Writing content for its classes has pushed me to look deeper at my stress and resilience, and I have grown so much. When I encounter difficulties, I recall practices from Abby's Impact classes and put them into practice. The result is that I have a healthier relationship with stress and a stronger ability to bounce back. I'm excited to share the hope with participants that they, too, can rewire their brains and fully engage with all emotions in a healthy way.”
Learn more about Abby’s Impact, including class descriptions and registration information today!