The CAPC has been universally screening all clients and families since 2018. In May 2020, just 2 months after COVID was deemed a global pandemic, we analyzed some of our year-to-date data average ACE scores from 2019 and compared them to the same time period post-COVID. Our analysis indicated significant increases in the average ACE scores of clients/families we served across our various departments.
While we were careful not to establish a causal assumption and say confidently that COVID was specifically responsible for these increases, ultimately- we used this as motivation to KEEP GOING! To keep doing our important work that had been appropriately labeled "essential". These statistics were a clear reminder that families needed help now, more than ever, and we could NOT slow down.
We also encouraged staff to remember that COVID was its OWN adverse childhood experience! Afterall, COVID met all the trauma definition criteria: sudden, expected, and rocked our world! COVID coupled with other historical adversities only compounded the challenges of families - but even families who had never experienced adversities (at least as they are categorized on the ACEs screening) suddenly found themselves reeling from the unexpected and need of help from social service agencies they'd never accessed before.
Undoubtedly - the ESSENTIAL workers of the world are just that: essential. And at the CAPC, our essential workers are SUPERHEROES! We've said all along: COVID can't stop good -and we're still going strong, 1 year later!
*The CAPC is available to discuss strategies on how to help agencies of all kinds implement universal ACEs screening into their work!
Cassie Lowe, M.A., LMFT
CAPC Program Director
clowe@nochildabuse.org
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