More than three decades ago courageous people took to the streets, demanding that the government invest in preventing and treating AIDS. What followed was the development of:
- City Departments of AIDS Prevention
- County Programs on AIDS Treatment
- School Board Policies on AIDS
- Training programs on AIDS for every teacher, police officer and health care provider
- Federal and State Funding for AIDS Prevention and Treatment
Today, we are living in an epidemic of childhood trauma, abuse, neglect and adverse childhood experiences. We can learn valuable lessons from the AIDS epidemic. I am reminded that the rallying cry of protesters asking for a compassionate response to AIDS was silence=death.
To prevent ACEs and strengthen our families, we must mobilize, educate and demand that our elected officials provide the funding to create seamless systems of safety and health in each community. Programs and policies shown to prevent ACEs on a citywide level require sustainable funding. Creating data-driven and cross-sector ACEs prevention requires the support of our mayors, city council members, county commissioners, state lawmakers and school boards.
We must use our collective power to protect every child. Only with courageous action can we create trauma-free childhoods in trauma-informed cities.
For more information on taking action visit www.rleaders.org/in-the-news
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