Trauma Can Last a Lifetime

Understanding Lifespan Effects of Childhood

Trauma

Westchester Children’s Association Supported by the Edith Glick Schoolman Children’s Foundation

Why We Care

The healthy development of all young children benefits all of society by providing a solid foundation for responsible citizenship, economic productivity, lifelong physical and mental health, strong communities, and sustainable democracy and prosperity.

Dr. Jack ShonkoffDirector, Center on the Developing ChildHarvard University

Today’s Presentation

1. The ACE Study2. Implications of Trauma/Stress3. What We Can Do

A collaborative effort of Kaiser Permanente and The Center for Disease Control

Vincent J. Felitti, M.D.Robert F. Anda, M.D.

• Largest study of its kind ever (almost 18,000 participants)

• Examined the health and social effects of adverse childhood experiences over the lifespan

• Questionnaire of 10 ACEs

Participants

• Majority of participants were 50 or older (62%)

• White/Caucasian (77%)

• College educated (72%)

ACE Calculator

Population of original ACE study similar to group today – what could we expect?

ACE Study Results

ACE score 4 or more(increases compared to general public)• Victim of domestic– Men 5%– Women 14%

• Teen Pregnancy 40%• Teen Paternity 35%• Drug Addiction 8%• Smoking 16%• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

8%

ACEs and Adult Alcoholism

ACEs and Chronic Depression

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Early smokinginitiation

Current smoking COPD

ACEs, Smoking, and Lung Disease

The ACE Score and the Prevalence of Severe Obesity (BMI >35)

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The Science Behind the Findings

Early Childhood Adversity Can Have Lifelong

Consequences

Research on the biology of stress helps explain some of the underlying reasons for differences in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.

Stress• Positive Stress

– Precipitants include the challenges of meeting new people, dealing with frustration, getting an immunization, or adult limit-setting.

• Tolerable Stress– Precipitants include death or serious illness

of a loved one, a frightening injury, parent divorce, terrorism, a natural disaster, or homelessness.

• Toxic Stress– Precipitants include extreme poverty,

physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, severe maternal depression, substance abuse, or family violence.

What We Know About Brain Development

• Brain development begins prenatally

• Brains are built over time, shaped by interaction between genetics and experience

• Social, emotional and cognitive development are highly interrelated

Brain Development

• Brain architecture and skills are built in a hierarchical “bottom-up” sequence.

• Brain plasticity and the ability to change behavior decrease over time.

Building Adult Capabilities to Improve

Child Outcomes: A Theory of Change

Center on Developing ChildHarvard University

What We Know

• Elevated levels of stress hormones (i.e., cortisol) disrupt normal brain development.

• Nurturing and responsive relationships build healthy brain architecture

• Childhood experiences impact individuals, families, and communities

SO WHAT ?

What does this all mean?

• What is being done in Westchester County?

• What is WCA doing?• What can you do?

What is being done in Westchester?

• Shared language and perspective uniting many fields of health, mental health, substance abuse, social & human services

• Trauma-informed programs and services

• Focus on prevention• Building resilience

What Is WCA Doing?

• Raising public awareness– ACE presentations

• Investing in prevention:– Home visitation and family support– Systematized collection of data

• Advocating for public policy/funding that addresses:– Children’s Exposure to early trauma– Early Childhood programs – Health systems to integrate an understanding of

adverse childhood experiences

What Can You Do?

• Speak-up for children in your life– “What happened to you? NOT  What is

wrong with you?”

• Share the message– Invite WCA to talk to other groups

• Other ideas

Call to Action

• Be an informed voter and VOTE• Hold elected officials and community

leaders accountable

3 Take-Aways

1. Significant early adversity can lead to lifelong problems

2. There are solutions - Early Intervention is effective

3. Everyone has a role to play

Westchester Children’s Association

1914- 2014Celebrating 100 Years of

Child AdvocacyThank You.

For more informationwww.wca4kids.org

914-946-7676Allison Lake, alake@wca4kids.org