Tara Jones Achieves Unique Certification from Herbert Benson Mind-Body Medicine and Speaks at Harvard Medical School Conference

Coastal Georgia Indicators Recognizes Tara Jones as Georgia’s Only Certified Provider of Unique Mind-Body Medicine Techniques

Tara Jones Achieves Certification from Benson-Henry Institute
Tara Jones, REAL program manager for the Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council, was a featured speaker at the Herbert Benson MD Mind Body Medicine Conference held Oct 31-Nov 2, 2024, at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Jones, pictured fourth from the left, is surrounded by fellow certified Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) providers from Boston, Chicago and India, along with her BHI mentor, Rana Chudnofsky, director, PART Training Program and Resilient Youth.

(SAVANNAH, GA) Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is pleased to announce that Tara Jones recently completed Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) provider certification through the esteemed Benson-Henry Institute (BHI). This achievement makes her the only certified provider of this program in Georgia.

“The prestigious Benson-Henry Institute recognizes that stress is a major cause of illness and looks at the mind-body connection, or self-care, as the ‘third leg’ in treatment, along with medicine and surgery,” said Lizann Roberts, CGIC’s executive director.

Serving as Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council’s (CCSNPC) Resilience Enhancement and Learning (REAL) Program manager and as a CGIC project coordinator, Jones facilitates programs in resilience for the Savannah Police Department, City of Savannah, and other organizations. In addition, she uses data to drive her work in developing wellness programs.

“Tara is an engaged community advocate with multiple organizations in the Savannah region,” said Roberts. “She works with Resilient Coastal Georgia, a regional collaboration of Resilient Georgia, to build trauma resilience in our community by integrating trauma-informed practices, addressing systemic issues, and fostering a culture that understands and responds effectively to the impacts of trauma.”

In further recognition of her work, in particular the success of a pilot program focused on addictive disease recovery patients which she spearheaded in collaboration with Gateway Community Service Board at its Magnolia Clinic, Jones received an invitation from Dr. Gregory Fricchione, director of BHI, to speak at the Herbert Benson Mind-Body Medicine Conference at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, held earlier this fall.
“This opportunity allowed Tara to share the groundbreaking work of Resilient Coastal Georgia and the Safety and Resilience programs in our community with an international audience,” said Vira Salzburn, executive director, CCSNPC.

For more information about the REAL training program, visit www.chathamsafetynet.org or email tarajones@chlink.org.

ABOUT COASTAL GEORGIA INDICATORS COALITION
The Coastal Georgia Indicators Coalition (CGIC) is comprised of community members and advocates working together through a comprehensive coordinated approach for planning accountability to address overall health and well-being while leveraging resource initiatives. Also serving as the Chatham Family Connection Collaborative, CGIC is the local arm of the only statewide network in the country dedicated to the health and well-being of families and communities. The purpose of the Coalition is to improve community well-being by engaging and leading the community to work collectively in its development of strategic priorities that guide policy, programs and resource allocation. CGIC is the responsible organization for the development, and with partners, the implementation of the Chatham Community Blueprint. CGIC has strength and capacity related to leadership, management, systems and partnerships.

ABOUT RESILIENT GEORGIA
Resilient Georgia is a statewide coalition of more than 80 partners and 600 stakeholders committed to building a stronger, more resilient Georgia. Through a network of public and private partners, Resilient Georgia is creating a pipeline of trauma-informed behavioral health services and resources that support children and families who have experienced adversity. This integrated system includes prevention, early intervention, research, advocacy and policy, and care implementation and coordination. Learn more at resilientga.org or contact Emily Anne Vall at Evall@ResilientGA.org

MEDIA CONTACT
Marjorie Young
Carriage Trade Public Relations® Inc.
912-844-9990
marjorie@carriagetradepr.com

Scroll to Top