Corinna: "I have my ducks in a row, but the "experts" aren't listening. At least not in my city. It's just frustrating when a big level national collaborative is using the right words but the wrong actions. This group could do so much more simply by engaging the community they purport to serve. Listening when we say "potential harm.""
First, thanks to all for this very direct and thought-provoking discussion. The awareness of our own triggers is important to me, as it helps me identify my triggers. I am particularly attentive to the "not in my city" comment. I have been in primary care for years and when I heard of ACEs and Resilience I was appalled (at myself) that I had not know about it sooner.
Second, I believe ACEs and their consequences are an epidemic--tied into all the other issues of the day, heart disease, addiction, cancer to name a few. I am also aware that having ACEs affects the way that my/our brains work. But, I went to school to learn to be a provider, and I can "go to school" in ACEs/Resilience (i.e. I am here and elsewhere learning.
Thirdly, many of my colleagues are doing good work, but they don't know about ACEs, nor do my friends who are in law enforcement, education and/or business.
Lastly, I believe, that we must do our best to step up and encourage people to listen. I think Paper Tigers started to raise awareness, at least incrementally. I recall their are innovators, early adopters, early majorities, late majorities and laggards. I am terrified to step into the early adopter group, I am more comfortable in the late majority group. However, this is too important to wait. I am going to keep stepping in again and again, to whomever will listen to make this work in Central Pennsylvania.
Although ACEs Connection is not perfect, I believe the tools and blogs are very helpful to many, if only to make us think differently and/or to stir up controversy. It is a melting pot, not a perfect pot.
In some states, such as Maine (Maine Resiliency Building Network, where I just spent a few months), they are doing it well! I believe Sue Andrews-Mackey, up there, stepped in a while back and they are making definite, but slow progress. I am NOT speaking for any of you, but I need to step up and do my best to get this epidemic identified and start to be part of the solution--in Central Pennsylvania. Again, thank you!