“Many abused children cling to the hope that growing up will bring escape and freedom. But the personality formed in the environment of coercive control is not well adapted to adult life. The survivor is left with fundamental problems in basic trust, autonomy, and initiative. She approaches the task of early adulthood—establishing independence and intimacy—burdened by major impairments in self-care, in cognition and in memory, in identity, and in the capacity to form stable relationships. She is still a prisoner of her childhood; attempting to create a new life, she reencounters the trauma.”
–Judith Lewis Herman, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence.
In order for children to meet developmental milestones, learn, grow and lead productive lives, it is critical that they be healthy. Good social-emotional and mental health is a key component of children’s healthy development.
Poverty, trauma, and inadequate treatment are three factors that have been shown to have a sustained, negative impact on children’s social, emotional and mental health.
Racism is now recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), a toxic source of stress with the potential to disrupt a child’s ability to learn, relate, grow, play, communicate, and problem-solve.
ACEs disproportionately impact children of color. This is a downstream impact of the toxic environments created by institutions and systems that shape our lived experience (e.g. the court, education, and healthcare systems).
Healthy school, community, and home environments are critical to preventing children from experiencing ACEs and appropriately supporting students living with chronic stress to that it does not get in the way of them achieving their aspirations.
Today’s Challenge
Watch
- Watch the Michigan ACE Initiative video to learn about statewide ACEs awareness, interventions, and recommended state policy. Explore ways you can help magnify their work. (19:08)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtuTmDtvGm0 - Watch Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris on the TED stage explain how the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. Reflect on your own coping skills during the most difficult time in your life experience, and any privilege that may have helped you cope. Consider how different the outcome may have been without that privilege. (16:02)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk
Engage
- Stay connected with this resource as more knowledge about ACEs emerges. https://www.pacesconnection.com/
- Take this survey to learn how childhood trauma may be impacting your own life. https://www.pacesconnection.com/blog/got-your-ace-resilience-scores
- Assess your score and discover resources for supporting yourself and others. https://health.cornell.edu/resources/health-topics/building-resilience
- Sign up for an ACEs training through Nonprofit Network. It will give you the skills to help build resilience in our communities. https://www.nonprofnetwork.org/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=month.calendar&Itemid=176&year=2023&month=02&day=04
Discuss
- Why do you think educators should learn about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?
- What are some examples of policies and community supports that would help prevent ACEs and lead to more equitable communities?