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ACEs Aware in Action May 2021 Our State of CAre is ACEs Aware This month, we launched a statewide health care provider engagement campaign to expand the reach and impact of the ACEs Aware initiative. The campaign is designed to help clinical health care teams understand the importance of screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and invites them to join the ACEs Aware movement by getting trained and certified to screen for ACEs. The campaign uses digital and print media to raise...

By Change Lab Solutions, May 2021 How can cross-sector partnerships foster a just food system and support healthy communities? What do health care systems, local governments, and community organizations need to consider when partnering to increase healthy food access for those who need it most? Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity rates in the United States have risen to unprecedented levels, affecting not only individual health but health equity in our communities. To address...

From Prevention Institute, May 2021 Summary The Community Safety Realized report describes how the science and practice of public health and the values of equity and justice can shape community-driven, multi-sector approaches to safety. The dual purposes of the report are to expand collective understanding of community violence prevention policies, practices, and programs, and to invite collaboration among community-based organizations, government agencies, policymakers, and local, state,...

The Organization Healthy Places by Design advances community-led action and proven, place-based strategies to ensure health and wellbeing for all. Operating as a virtual organization based in North Carolina, we envision a nation of healthy, equitable communities where everyone reaches their full potential. We believe that health and wellbeing are essential human rights. We create impact where it is most needed, respecting, and honoring the voices of people who face the starkest health...

When people hear about the mental and physical health risks of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress, one of the first questions is, “What do we do about this?” Awareness of the prevalence of adversity and the impact of stress on the brain and body leads to the possibility for prevention and response. Whether you are acting within a family, agency, organization, business or community, the next steps should be taken knowing that we will all work together to bring about change.

By Lorelei Goff, The Greenville Sun, May 26, 2021 Susan Lachmann’s ability to use art as tools for mental health defines her. “I love making something out of nothing,” said Lachmann. “It makes me a creator. That’s so empowering. And that’s so essential to me. “My life has had plenty of challenges. I nearly died in my own bathtub after a postpartum hemorrhage. I watched my house burn down holding my baby in my arms. All kinds of things. The arts are a lifeboat for me, and I don’t want to go...

By Nirmita Panchal, Rabah Kamal, Cynthia Cox, et al., Kaiser Family Foundation, May 26, 2021 Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, children have experienced major disruptions as a result of public health safety measures, including school closures, social isolation, financial hardships, and gaps in health care access. Many parents have reported poor mental health outcomes in their children throughout the pandemic – in May 2020, shortly after the pandemic began, 29% said their child’s...

By Shanoor Seervai, The Commonwealth Fund, May 21, 2021 Many of us can recall a time we felt nervous about seeing a doctor. Maybe it was because we were wary about how much the visit would cost, or what a diagnosis would mean for our health. Now, imagine how much more stress you would feel if you had experienced trauma — from domestic violence or human trafficking, for example. Trauma survivors are the people family medicine physician Anita Ravi, M.D., cares for. On the latest episode of The...

From Education Week, May 25, 2021 The progression from kindergarten to high school graduation is intended to be a smooth trajectory for most children. Teaching is carefully calibrated so each year builds on the last and educators work hard to help students over inevitable humps, like moving to middle school. But what happens when schooling is disrupted, as it was for most students during the pandemic this past year? Students are returning to school now after enduring trauma, stress, and...

Starting in 2018, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) has tracked trauma-related state legislation that addresses childhood trauma, child adversity, toxic stress, or “adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).“ This link will take you to the NCSL Injury Prevention Legislation Database|Opioid Abuse Prevention page to access the ACEs legislation database. Here’s how you use it: Under “Topics,” choose the first topic listed (ACEs) and under “States,” choose “All States” or the...

Are Opioids Prescribed for PTSD? Opioid use is a controversial struggle in the healthcare world. While opioids provide relief from chronic pain and the harmful effects of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), opioids can be highly addictive and cause problems later on. You may be wondering, are these drugs safe to use? Let’s take a look at some of the facts regarding opioid prescriptions for PTSD. What are Opioids? Physicians primarily prescribe opioids to treat chronic...

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately harmed communities of color and exposed longstanding disparities and injustices within our health care system and society. It is impossible to quantify the impact of the pandemic in addition to the longstanding ongoing harm caused by violence and racism. In this pivotal moment in history, we must find new ways to support healing at the individual and community level. Healing Us Together (HUT) is an innovative program that supports collective...