My first 30 second ACEs rap attempt (for Pediatricians and Family Physicians):
To begin, I have to give some background. Today I met with a local House of Rep State Candidate and was discussing Adverse Childhood Experiences. I had printed off ACEs 101. When we were discussing ACEs (me, the representative candidate, his wife, and two other supporters), he was reading ACEs 101. As I was describing ACEs, he said something like "This says it all" referring to the first sentence of ACEs 101 Jane wrote. So I have modified that slightly. Now as a pedi (or a FP) we may prefer the term "toxic stress' as that term is promoted in our medical literature and I happen to like it better than ACES. The reason I like "toxic stress" better than ACEs is that acronym is confusing.
1. ACEs sounds positive.
2. We have an ACEs academy here - an alternative school for children with behavioral health issues who aren't succeeding in the standard school.
3. When I think of ACEs, I think of euchre. The aces are the most powerful cards in the game besides the bowers.
Thus, I prefer to use Toxic Stress or Adversity: So here goes. Please help me edit this to something more professional since I am not a writer.
Adversity in childhood damages the developing brain as severely as lead poisoning or some infectious diseases. Adversity harms children's brains so profoundly that in addition to early affects such as learning difficulties or behavioral health problems, the effects are also seen decades later resulting in much of the chronic disease physicians treat, most mental illness people experience, and is the root cause of the majority of violence in society. Adversity isn't destiny! Healing and prevention are possible. Prevention begins with doing what we do best. Just as we screen for lead toxicity and vaccinate for infectious diseases, we can screen for adversity and guide children and families towards wellness and health.