As teachers we must understand that our students are a product of all of their experiences, good and bad. We must not let their ACEs define them. It's our responsibility to help them find their own strength, meaning, and purpose despite these obstacles so they can grow up to be happy, healthy, and productive adults. This is how the cycle gets broken and we are an important part of this process. They're all great kids; some just don't know it yet. - Jim Parry, REACH Stewartville...

So here is the harsh reality of ACEs. The child who enters kindergarten with an ACEs score of 3 or 4 will likely have that score double or more by the time they graduate from high school. For far too many students, adverse childhood experiences ARE life experiences. These life experiences affect everything from mental and physical health to relationships and academics. Our students can't simply be "fixed" with a temporary response. Trauma-informed/responsive education isn't a fad. This isn't...

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics — the largest nationally representative study to date on ACEs — confirms that Adverse Childhood Experiences are universal, yet highlights some disparities among socioeconomic groups. People with low-income and educational attainment, people of color and people who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual had significantly higher chance of having experienced adversity in childhood. Read the full article here.

Life expectancy is highly correlated with ACE scores and complex childhood trauma. Enter your address or zip code to know what the health outcomes are in your neighborhoods and communities. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Life Expectancy Calculator

The 2018 Building Strong Brains Tennessee ACEs Summit took place last week in Nashville, TN. The theme of this year’s summit was “Celebrating Successes and Imagining Possibilities” and there is plenty to celebrate. Tennessee is one of the most innovative states when it comes to ACEs awareness. Tennessee understands that childhood trauma is the root cause of its poor health outcomes, high rates of addiction and other ailments. And Tennessee is doing something about it. Tennessee’s leadership...

Speakers and guests at the SAMSHA Forum included (l-r) Mary Rolando of the Department of Children's Services; Chrissy Haslam, First Lady of Tennessee; Dr. Joan Gillece, SAMSHA Center for Trauma Informed Care; Dr. Andi Clements, East Tennessee State University; Becky Haas, Johnson City Police Department; Carey Sipp, ACEs Connection, and Robin Crumley, Boys & Girls Club of Johnson City/Washington County. It was easy to be both inspired and a bit overwhelmed at the Substance Abuse and...

#WARonSlavery

The wider the variety of world views and lived experiences that inform a community visioning or planning process, the more likely it is that the built project or resulting plan will address the needs and opportunities of even the most vulnerable or most marginalized person in the community. Find the full article here !

Hello Minnesota ACEs Action! As your Regional Community Facilitator, I am excited to work together. I have an affinity for homegrown movements. I, myself, am a part of a thriving collective impact in Nashville, TN called ACE Nashville. I have extensive experience creating a local movement and I hope I can be a resource for you, not just on ACEs Connection but also with your efforts within your cities and communities. I have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to collective impact and...

A new study assesses the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences in America by state, race or ethnicity, and income level. Read the full article here .

New research shows that those who suffered significant trauma at a young age are unable to correctly consider risk as adults. Read the full article here .

Minnesota Communities Caring for Children (MCCC) is the home of Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota and the Minnesota Circle of Parents. Our programs are focused on building healthy communities and families where all children thrive . Our mission is to empower parents and communities to build supportive relationships, nurture children, and prevent child abuse and neglect. Currently we are hiring an Evaluation and Community Education Manager. This role is responsible for leading the organization’s...