Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Article 3
Written by Jane Kinlaw, Community Care of the Lower Cape Fear
In our previous two articles we have learned about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the impact they have on life including brain development, health conditions, learning capability, behavior, and mental well-being. Adverse experiences and other trauma in childhood do not dictate the future of a child. Children survive and thrive despite the trauma in their lives. For these children, adverse experiences are counterbalanced with protective factors. Adverse events and protective factors experienced together have the potential to promote resilience.
Columbus County had an opportunity to see how the effects of childhood trauma can impact an individual for the rest of his or her life. The documentary, Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope was shown on August 8th in downtown Whiteville. Melea Rose-Waters, Parent & Community Engagement Manager with Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina facilitated a discussion at the conclusion of the presentation.
The film explores how toxic stress in early childhood triggers reactions in the body that impact brain development and function, make one more susceptible to disease and even has the potential to decrease life expectancy.
Columbus County residents can join other North Carolina counties on a quest for understanding of terms such as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), resilience, trauma-informed care and toxic stress. By becoming more aware of the effects of ACE in a community, some counties have developed plans to build resilient communities and become better equipped to respond to the issues of toxic stress and the subsequent needs of children and their families.
The showing of the Resilience film was a collaborative effort of Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina, Community Care of North Carolina-Lower Cape Fear, Innovative Approaches and the Columbus County Partnership for Children (Smart Start).
Additional information about Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina may be found at www.PreventChildAbuseNC.org.
For additional information about Community Care of North Carolina – Lower Cape Fear, call Jane Kinlaw at 910-879-1080 or visit us online at www.carelcf.org.
For additional information about the Columbus County Partnership for Children, call 910-642-8226. Visit the office at 109 W. Main St. in Whiteville or online at www.columbussmartstart.org.
If you would like to find out your ACE score, please go to: http://www.theannainstitute.org/Finding%20Your%20ACE%20Score.pdf.
This project was initiated through Innovative Approaches (IA) which is a grant that serves Bladen, Columbus, and Robeson counties and is supported through the NC Division of Public Health, Children and Youth Branch. The grant focuses on system changes via program, policy or procedure and the overall goal is sustainability. The main focus of IA is working with families/caregivers that have children with special health care needs ages 0-21 years old.