Adverse Childhood Experience

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

External Links for ACE Resources:

A Resource Guide for Youth and Those Who Care About Them (Regarding Complex Trauma):

http://www.acesconnection.com/blog/what-is-complex-trauma-a-resource-guide-for-youth-and-those-who-care-about-them

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

http://www.integration.samhsa.gov/pbhci-learning-community/Trauma-Informed_Care_in_an_Integrated_World_for_CIHS_8_27-12_all_edits.pdf

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

http://www.acesconnection.com/blog/models-training-for-developing-trauma-informed-systems-of-care-tisc-1

Models and Training Resources Regarding ACEs for the Educator