ACEs: Preparing for Change
Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on lifelong health and opportunity as well as future violence victimization and perpetration. As such, early experiences are an important public health issue. Much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs have been linked to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential, and early death. The ACE Study asserts stressful or traumatic childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, witnessing of domestic violence, growing up with alcohol and or substance abuse, mental illness, parental discord, or crime in the home causes long lasting negative effects. These adverse experiences are a common pathway to social, emotional, and cognitive impairments that lead to the increased risk of unhealthy behaviors, risk of violence or re-victimization, disease, disability and premature mortality. As the number of ACEs increases so does the risk for negative outcomes. The negative effect of ACEs can be mitigated by early detection and treatment from a proactive health care system.
The National Medical Association Region V and the Greater Kansas City Medical Society has partner with the Reach Foundation of Kansas City, Missouri to bring more awareness of ACES to the medical community in Kansas. The project is called “ACEs: Preparing for Change“ NMA is also collaborating Resilient KC and other community in hopes of reducing the impact of trauma on health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, mental health, and early death. The Region has established an ACEs Advisory Committee which provides guidance for the efforts of the project and build alliances with other partners.
ACEs: Preparing for Change Advisory Committee
Eleanor Lisbon, MD – Advisory Committee, Chair
Kenneth Butler, MD – Advisory Committee Member
Kirby Randolph, MD – Advisory Committee Member
Jackie Tenney, MD – Advisory Committee Member
Derek Lewis II – Project Director
Bethany Hartley – Research Associate
Preparing for Change Upcoming Events:
- Trauma informed Care Training – August 2017
- Greater Kansas City Medical Society Trauma Informed Care Dinner Program, August 2017
Link to ACEs Connection Website:
http://www.acesconnection.com/
ACEs Videos: General Content —
https://www.ted.com/talks/nadine_burke_harris_how_childhood_trauma_affects_health_across_a_lifetime
http://www.acesconnection.com/clip/adverse-childhood-experiences-aces-4-mini-foxbaltimore-com
Resilient KC Upcoming Events:
http://www.kcchamber.com/Resilient-KC/Special-Events.aspx
External Links for ACE Resources:
A Resource Guide for Youth and Those Who Care About Them (Regarding Complex Trauma):
LucidWitness: Resources aimed at growing awareness about trauma during childhood, or “developmental trauma.”
https://lucidwitness.com/2017/04/01/index-to-lucidwitness/
University of Minnesota ExtensionChildren, Youth & Family Consortium: Historical Trauma and Microaggressions: A Framework for Culturally-Based Practice
http://www.extension.umn.edu/family/cyfc/our-programs/ereview/docs/cmhereviewOct10.pdf
SAMHSA: Trauma-Informed Care in an Integrated World
Adverse Childhood Experiences Reported by Adults — Five States
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm5949.pdf
Comprehensive list of ACEs State Projects
http://www.acesconnection.com/blog/state-projects
Healthy Youth Relationships Community Toolkit
http://www.acesconnection.com/blog/healthy-youth-relationships-community-toolkit
Trauma-Informed Systems of Care – Models/Training
Models and Training Resources Regarding ACEs for the Educator
http://www.acesconnection.com/blog/education
Models and Training Resources Regarding ACEs for Mental Health