ACEs Webinar Archive - Dr. Heather Larkin

Recent medical research on "Adverse Childhood Experiences" (ACEs) reveals a compelling relationship between the extent of childhood trauma and serious later in life health and social problems. The social science knowledge base and the practical experience of social service providers become important in terms of understanding and responding to adverse life experiences in childhood and adolescence. The ACE research can be linked with prevention and intervention knowledge that involves prevention of health risk behaviors, evidence-based mental health and substance abuse treatment, recovery-oriented systems of care, integrated treatment of co-occurring disorders, community development, and service delivery and policy evaluations. Social workers located in discrete professional settings can mobilize comprehensive responses for a whole person approach to adverse childhood experiences by bringing together various professions to create more coherent systems for the development of children and the support of parents. Capital Region ACE Think Tank and Action Teams have utilized ACE research to connect various areas of concern (workforce issues, trauma-informed practice, recovery-oriented systems of care, prevention and intervention, treatment of co-occurring disorders, cross-systems/service integration). This webinar outlines the ACE research, emphasizing this connection to social service knowledge for response strategy, and reports on newer research exploring the Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Homeless People and a representative demographic sample of New Yorkers. The mission and purpose of local ACE Think Tank and Action Team Meetings is discussed, outlining the policy journey in the NYS Capital Region along with next steps. NYS has the opportunity to demonstrate leadership in ACE response, promoting resilience, recovery, and transformation.