Hello Mem, I agree we should do comprehensive ACE/Resiliency assessments and surveys looking at [all] of these issues from multiple lenses and angles.
My point about "drifting a bit off topic here" stems from my observation, nationally, that some prominent programs implementing trauma-informed care in America appear to be content with excluding and/or paraphrasing some of the most fundamental components of the ACE Study (1998) and its conclusions.
- The ACE Study identified 10 fundamental categories of trauma.
- It concluded that all 10 fundamental categories of trauma are "essentially co-equal in terms of long-term effects".
- An ACE score of (4) holds a 1220% increase in the relative risk for attempting suicide, no matter which (4) of the 10 ACEs are identified.
Therefore, in my opinion, all 10 of original ACEs (1998) including "Divorce", should be included in all ACEs Histories/Surveys/Questionnaires to protect the family relationships in real-time according to a "specific court ordered standard of care" as determined in a court of law (Divorce Court).
That's why I advocate for all systems of care to identify all court ordered legal rights and standards of care where the person being served is the subject.
Additional categories of (alleged trauma) can surely be add to the assessed ACEs, but 'none' of the original 10 ACE Study (1998) categories should ever be excluded from an assessment that's portrayed as comprehensive.
Please consider the ACEsConnections blog post from Ed Finkel on 1/22/16 concerning 'One Hope United' and their 'Healing Paths Program' in Illinois, USA.
The blog post states that;
- One Hope United attempts to lead those affected by childhood trauma down a Healing Path.
- “It’s specifically trauma-based treatment, rooted in evidence-based practices,” says Jill Novacek, director of programs...
- The organization works to ensure safe, loving environments for children by educating and empowering them and their parents...
- The program serves children from three through 18 years old. Most have a complex set of ACEs.
- ACEs refers to the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Survey...
- The approach of integrating ACEs, prompted by requirements under contracts with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services...
- It gives us more common language and understanding about the impact of trauma over the lifespan...
- The ACE Study measured 10 types of childhood adversity...They are...losing a parent to divorce, separation or death.
- When they have their first meeting with a child, Healing Path counselors use a modified version of the traditional 10-question ACE survey.
- Their list includes: abuse, neglect, accidents or injuries, loss of a loved one, abandonment, homelessness, domestic violence, peer and community violence, natural or man-made disasters, substance abuse, serious illness, terrorism or war zone trauma.
- The traumas from the original ACE Study that are not included are losing a parent to separation or divorce, living with a household member who is depressed or has other mental illness, and having a household member who is incarcerated.
It appears this "Healing Paths" program has "drifted a bit off topic here". They've specifically avoided (3) known forms of "trauma" (ACEs) in the lives of the children they serve, yet they added several other forms of alleged trauma.
How do the rest of you ACEs Connections folks feel about participating in the institutionalization and the normalizing of "willfully incomplete" ACEs Histories, Surveys, and Questionnaires in the helping professions?
James Gallant, Marquette County Suicide prevention Coalition (906) 360 -3045 mqtsuicidepreventioncoalition@gmail.com