Community college early childhood development program (focus on infants and toddlers) looking to embed ACEs, trauma, and resilience into entire curriculum. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!
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Community college early childhood development program (focus on infants and toddlers) looking to embed ACEs, trauma, and resilience into entire curriculum. Any suggestions greatly appreciated?
Wow, that's really interesting!
Given that I have a somewhat technology-oriented focus, I was thinking that online and interactive case-/scenario-oriented learning material (also suited for smartphones) could perhaps be an interesting supplement to ordinary lectures and textbook material.
Furthermore, I have just begun developing an open source online ACE questionnaire (multi-lingual, embeddable and brandable) that could perhaps also be included in their offerings (https://github.com/resixorg/ace-screener).
I hope that some of this can be of use to them, and I wish them good luck with their program.
Best,
Thomas
Dear Alicia,
Do check out the Trauma Resource Tool - located at http://trauma.jbsinternational.com/traumatool in support of your course. The Tool was developed in partnership by JBS International and Georgetown Child Mental Health Technical Assistance Center. Its targeted age groups are children and youth who have experienced trauma. It's a 'one stop' resource regarding all aspects of addressing and training on trauma. It's resources are kept current.
Do let me know of questions. I can be reached at 240 380 0431 or at eelias@jbsinternational.com.
My best,
Eileen Elias
Director, JBS Disability Service Center
Hi Alicia,
I will be using the ACE Interface training, developed by Dr. DeAnda, coPI of the ACEs Study, and others, to develop a course at the University of Iowa that includes ACEs, trauma, and resilience. I am in the process of contacting other universities that have used this material. I'd be happy to share my progress.
Harvard child dcelopment center has a ton of resources for early intervention. They focus on preschool intervention programs.
Also the Attachment Trauma Network has resources and professional on the ground support. They have folks who can provide guidance on strategies and programs that should be embedded into the curriculum.
I don't have any suggestions right now. But I am giving a presentation to the entire Alpena Community College School of Nursing in their nursing psyche course about aces and toxic stress. Generally we have far too few individuals in our society who get and understand the basics of ACEs 101 and getting that into community colleges, in Justice (and often these justice folks are the same folks who start off in our small rural community as our officers those who protect us or not--- I could see myself developing a great curriculum for approaching those with mental illness in a way where they don't end up using lethal force), education, premedical, law --- this is a great way to go if we cannot get this in bigger schools and I think it is an easier inroad than at "great" institutions like the University of Michigan.
So go for it and since there is so much action in California get other community colleges on board. I plan to do so in Michigan. Since I grew up very poor and didn't know anything I started at a school of 2000 students called Lake Superior State College (changed to University) these are the perfect forums where one can get in and educate the students. My next stop that I have to work on when I go down state Saginaw Valley State College (and my cousin went to nursing school there -- these are lower level programs -- and they are open to folks with higher education willing to talk about something important and it is really great after you have broke into one program, the others come on board!!!
The Spiritual Alliance to End Intimate Violence (SAIV)'s Caring and Connected Parenting Guide may be a great tool and supplemental resource:
I'm not sure the link came through - you can find the guide (and contact information for the author and the Director of SAIV) at http://saiv.org/parenting-guide/
Although it does not use ACE scores, my college trauma counselling program has a children and youth component.
We learned things like being a 'trauma informed' anti-violence/VAW&C andARAO (anti-racism/anti- oppression) trained counsellor/support worker is considered the 'human rights/social justice' focus.
Traditional CYW (child and youth workers; here in Canada they deal with young offenders) type diplomas, in contrast, is considered to be a 'law enforcement and criminal justice' focus.
My professor (Marilyn McLean; on the list below) taught us that often what are considered 'crimes' or 'behavioural problems' in child and youth should actually be considered 'Survival behaviours' in child/youth who are trauma-exposed.
We had to read several research articles on 'resilience' and 'resistance' in kids surviving and thriving after violence. One paper that we read for class, talked about a child who survived his father's violence because he would imagine himself to be strong by making fists while his hands were hiding in his pockets. In his mind he would visualize using his fists to defend himself. It is really quite remarkable how children can strategize to cope!
We were also taught to be concerned about the "medicalization" of violence against women and violence against children. e.g. why is the survivor often labelled as 'mentally ill' when they present with PTSD, but the offender is almost never labelled or pathologized? (Something to think about. Important to turn the tables when we do analysis.)
Here is a faculty list with brief biographies.
http://awcca.ca/about/faculty.php
Emma
Hello! Are you familiar with the Devereux Center for Resilient Children? We have lots of resources and tools designed specifically for early childhood professionals to develop the protective factors and resilience of young children: http://www.centerforresilientchildren.org
-Gabriel
Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota offers a minor in Child Advocacy Studies (CAST). CAST is open to undergraduates in any major and is designed to benefit students in nursing, social work, counseling, criminal justice, and many other disciplines. Winona State offers trainings to support community colleges and universities in establishing a CAST program. http://www.winona.edu/cast/
I am hoping to convince our local university to establish a CAST program. I'd like to hear back from others who have knowledge about it. ~Debbie
Deborah Bock, MSW, LCSW
Anchorage, Alaska
