POSITIVE & ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES
BUILDING RESILIENCY BENEFITS LONGTERM HEALTH
The medical e ects from Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been well documented for several years, but more recent studies have folded in the medical benefits benefififi of positive childhood experiences.
“For around a decade we’ve known about ACEs, identifying adverse experiences that have a clear link to medical problems later on,” said Scott Dudley, Behavioral Health Manager of the Center for Clinical Training for Imperial County Behavioral Health Services. ACES have been linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance use problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta.
Once the link became clear, “the research community started looking at who had a larger number of ACEs exposures and turned out OK,” he said. Then research shifted into studying positive childhood experiences, and ACEs became PACEs (Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences). “Researchers were trying to sort out what helps build resiliency to help ward o long-term e ects of adverse experiences during childhood,” he added.
Many of Imperial County Behavioral Health Services’ programs weave the message of positive experiences into treatment plans and into training of sta . As an example,
Dudley cited upcoming cultural competence training for ICBHS sta on the nature of traditional healing, as a way to respect values held dear by those in the community.
As for treatment programs that incorporate PACEs, Dudley said,
“Where ICBHS comes in is through social intervention, in encouraging positive mental health. When we’re working with a consumer base on interventions, they’re grounded in connecting back to the positive factors. With adults, we’re helping them with their parenting so it’s a more successful parenting experience. With youth, we’re working with getting them connected with friends, coaches and teachers who can have strong relations. Sometimes our own sta will end up having that out-of-treatment relationship with them.”
Positive experiences are “easily plug and play,” Dudley said, pointing to an article titled “There is Hope: Research Shows Positive Childhood Experiences Combat the E ects of Childhood Trauma” on the website pcaaz.org.
The article lists positive experiences as:
◗ Feel able to talk with family about your feelings
◗ Feel that your family stood by you during dicult times
◗ Enjoy participating in community traditions
◗ Feel a sense of belonging in high school
◗ Feel supported by friends
◗ Have at least two non-parent adults who took a genuine interest in you
◗ Feel safe and protected by an adult in your home “The more of those that a child has, the more they will help that child avoid adverse e ects of childhood trauma,” Dudley said.
Research shows adults with more of these positive interactions have “fewer mental health problems, better diet and fewer sleep problems, and less risky sex and substance abuse,” according to an article published April 21, 2021, on psychologytoday.com. “As a result, there is growing evidence that more of these positive experiences are protective for both mental and physical health in adults,” the article, “Positive Childhood Experiences May Improve Mental Health,” states.
With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, ICBHS sta has been reaching out to the community and to high schools, where preventions will center around positive childhood experiences.
“I’ll be speaking on how they can empower themselves to seek out these types of situations to balance out the childhood experience,” Dudley said. “This is super doable,” he added. “They don’t require legislation or money, but they help target what direction I need to head.”
Dudley, co-host with Maria Wyatt on ICBHS’ podcast “Let’s Talk About It,” last month addressed the benefits benefififi of positive childhood experiences with Frank Spesia, PACEs coordinator for the St. Joseph County, Indiana, Department of Health. To learn more about PACEs, visit kxoradio.com and follow the link for “Let’s Talk About It,” then click on the April 20 podcast.
If you or someone you know would benefit from the services o ered by ICBHS, call 442-2651525 for an appointment.