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Defining Health Equity and Key Steps to Achieving Greater Health Equity This RWJF report defines health equity and identifies crucial elements to guide effective action to reduce disparities in health status. Also included in the report are alternative definitions of health equity for different audiences that may have varying backgrounds and perspectives, and examples of specific terms that often arise in discussions around the concept. The Issue Health equity surrounds and underpins all of...

Michelle Guymon is a hero in the world of child sex trafficking prevention. Seven years ago, she had no idea Los Angeles County had a child sex trafficking problem Now Guymon is director of the Child Trafficking Unit for the Los Angeles County Probation Department and is part of the group that aims to make LA’s efforts to combat child sex trafficking a model for the nation. [For more of this story, written by Kristy Plaza, go to ...

Hillary Larkin talks about improving Emergency Department care for sexual assault and why she hates the term "rape kit."

Shannon Royce is the new director of the Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS Center). Below is a letter she issued to the more than 300 members of the Trauma-Informed Congregations Community of Practice group, many of whom are ACEs Connection members. Members of the group has been meeting virtually, and regularly, for more than a year to learn about each others' work, as well as notable developments in the...

From Gail: ACN member Barbara Stern shared an email with me about "Lifestyle Medicine" including information from Dr. Dean Ornish, considered the "father" of Lifestyle Medicine. I read the note (included below) and saw a link to view the free introductory video. I have been following Dr. Ornish for some time and link his work on reversing heart disease so decided to watch the video. Although no one interviewed mentions ACEs, they talk about getting to the root causes of many behaviors which...

When Dawn Cretney from the UK sought in “Ask the Community” section of ACEs Connection practical advice and support for parents and teachers to help children and young people affected by the Manchester terror attack , she referenced the wisdom of “look for the helpers” as did writer Anthony Breznican in his touching tribute to Mister Rogers on the PBS News Hour Friday night. I’ve come late to the fan base of Fred Rogers but fortunately, there is still time left to impart my new appreciation...

A colleague of mine -- here in New Zealand!! -- recently passed the attached PDF, from Scotland, onto me. It concerns a relatively recent, and still developing, proposed trauma training framework. This might be helpful to others wishing to go further in introducing TIC in their own services. It includes a consideration of ACEs. Naturally, it needs to incorporate culture-specific additions or modifications to suit your local conditions. The document as it is likely has broad application.

Child care experts say it's dangerous for infants to sleep in the same bed with their parents. Now, researchers report that "baby boxes" and parent education can help reduce the unsafe practice. Bed-sharing is linked with sleep-related deaths in babies, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and accidental suffocation and strangulation, according to background information with this study. For the study, researchers at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia recruited more than...

State law recognizes that schools primarily serving expelled students, dropouts and students who had trouble coping in traditional schools should be held accountable for academic performance – but by different measurements. This month, the California State Board of Education began a more than year-long process to determine what those metrics should be, which schools should be measured by them and how the schools should fit into the larger system of accountability and school improvement the...

"Saving your children, family and loved ones from intergenerational Post Trauma Stress (PTS)…" “Let’s raise children who won’t have to recover from their childhoods.” ~ Pam Leo Following is an excerpt from my new book released for the 70th Anniversary of the End of WWII... Chapters The Wrath of Stigma Local Community, Partnerships, and Responsibility Parents, Teachers, and Mentors Teaching Kids Empathy & Compassion…The dangers of emotional numbness & denial… How Does Moral Injury...

Storytelling is always beautiful and that is true no matter what truth is being told. If a story has moved me to tears I don't feel sad I feel more alive, human, connected and maybe even overjoyed. To get to hear a story is like being able to watch a flower push through dirt. It's having the honor of being present at a birth and getting to see labor shift into new life. Hearing story isn't always dramatic. Sometimes, it's the exhale of relief, the coming home after grocery shopping and...

A growing number of organizations in Greater Richmond are working to educate the community about the impact of trauma on children and families. The effort involves service providers, educators, government agencies and community groups. In the first of an ongoing series on Trauma and Resilience, WCVE’s Catherine Komp has more for Virginia Currents . Learn More: Find information about the Greater Richmond Trauma Informed Community Network and follow ChildSavers to learn about upcoming...