Childhood Trauma is Tied to Health Risks, but Michigan Doctors Don't Ask [bridgemi.com]

Thank you Mi AAP! 

You did a great service to Mi kids and toxic stress screening by introducing the ASQ-SE. It’s a way to discover the effects of toxic stress early (I saw delays at 2-4 months) and it’s use cuts across socioeconomic lines- the trick is to get enough services into Early On so that SE delays can be addressed early.  I don’t know how to get those services into the state's early intervention program.   However, I know that pediatrics should be about child development first and foremost.  Social Emotional delays are the manifestation of Toxic Stress in childhood so the early recognition of SE delays would be an excellent step in tackling toxic stress in the state.    I would support looking at how to effectively broaden screening for social emotional delays in the state as long as it goes hand in hand with services to address SE delays.  I feel that developmental screening is more in line with the role of pediatricians as advocates for children and families.    

If a few doctors want to screen for ACEs in Michigan because they have a personal interest and can take the individual time with patients, that’s great but requiring all doctors to screen when we don’t have resources available to provide to families that screen positive I’m not so sure about.