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Reply to "Misuse of ACE assessment"

I agree with William. From our organization's standpoint for the last 30 years, we have educated the professionals to be on the ready when they see kids and teens who are experiencing ACEs or when a child comes forward.  Demanding a child come forward through something like a screening can be extremely abrasive.  "Outing" a family, when you live by the "Don't feel, Don't trust, Don't talk" rules, is expecting a lot out of a kid.  The stress of being in such an awkward position could be suffocating for a child. 

And further - I think we need to be careful how we frame ACEs when we are talking to kids.  I am reading a lot of references recently that blur the distinction between trauma as it relates to an actual traumatic event vs the unresolvable stress.  Sometimes they are one and the same.  But if you portray trauma as only a traumatic event, a pool of children who are experiencing ACEs will never reveal themselves convinced that their situation "isn't really 'that bad.' "  I think it is very important to emphasize the unresolvable stress as the culprit of the ACE, and that the level of danger or violence is not the differentiator.  It is a very lonely place to be when you are overlooked by the very people who are advocating to provide services.

Last edited by Mary Beth Colliins
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