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Hi,

 

We are working on a project in the Netherlands to improve trauma sensitive education. We are considering starting with a screening on ACE's so but would like to have some tips and tricks from more experienced schools or organizations. We ask ourselves questions like: are we going to screen all children in schools? who is going to do the screening? how do we get all parents to participate? What do we need we need to be prepared for when we start screening and how do we arrange that? Do we add questions to the ACE questionnaire like 'did you or your child ever receive help regarding the ACE's?'.

I am sure other schools or organizations have been going through this process and we would like to make use of all the experience that's already out there. As far as I know we haven't doen ACE-screening in schools in The Netherlands yet.

Thanks for taking the time to help us with this process. 

 

Best, Leony Coppens, Clinical Psychologist

 

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Thanks Leif. I am familiar with the sites. I wonder if some one could give more specific information in how to use ace-questionaries with parents in a schoolsetting. Do you ask all parents to fall out the ace questionnaire or do you start with the parents of children that show trauma symptoms? Is the experience that parents come to school to have a tal with someone to answer the questions of the ACE questionnaire? What if parents don't want to cooperate? The schools in our area have a lot of practical questions like these and it would help if I could share experiences of other schools with them. Thanks again for thinking along!

 

Hi, Leony: The schools in Washington State that are receiving trauma-informed training from the Washington State University Area Health Education Center don't screen for ACEs.

There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- Spokane, WA

Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA    -- Spokane, WA

Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85%

(Students in this high school did their own anonymous ACE survey, and added more questions, but the school doesn't.) 

Neither does the HEARTS program in San Francisco, nor Cherokee Point Elementary in San Diego, CA. 

(At Cherokee Point Elementary, kids don't conform to school; school conforms to kids)

 

San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89%

 

This high school in Minnesota does: 

Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education

Do a member search for Leisa Irwin, and you'll find other blog posts where she provides much more detail about screening and how they use the information. I know she'd be glad to answer any questions.

 

I've heard that some schools in New Haven were planning on screening, and we'll be checking that out.

 

I hope this helps!

 

Cheers, Jane

  

Last edited by Jane Stevens
Thanks a lot Jane!

Best regards,


Leony Coppens

Klinisch psycholoog
Cognitief gedragstherapeut VGCt
EMDR-practitioner
www.leonycoppens.nl



> Op 29 mei 2015, om 01:44 heeft ACEsConnection <communitymanager@acesconnection.com> het volgende geschreven:
>
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/>
> Hi, Leony: The schools in Washington State that are receiving trauma-informed training from the Washington State University Area Health Education Center don't screen for ACEs.
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- Spokane, WA
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA -- Spokane, WA
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85%
> (Students in this high school did their own anonymous ACE survey, and added more questions, but the school doesn't.)
> Neither does the HEARTS program in San Francisco, nor Cherokee Point Elementary in San Diego, CA.
> (At Cherokee Point Elementary, kids don't conform to school; school conforms to kids)
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89%
>
> This high school in Minnesota does:
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education
> Do a member search for Leisa Irwin, and you'll find other blog posts where she provides much more detail about screening and how they use the information. I know she'd be glad to answer any questions.
>
> I've heard that some schools in New Haven were planning on screening, and we'll be checking that out.
>
> I hope this helps!
>
> Cheers, Jane
>
>
> .
>
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85%
>
> x
>
> A community play called ZERO tips Sacramento, CA, into tackling school suspensions
>
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- Spokane, WA
>
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA -- Spokane, WA
>
> The Restorative Justice League of Le Grand High School jumps in to save the day -- Le Grand, CA
>
> In Vallejo, CA, schools -- where referrals, suspensions, expulsions outnumbered students 5 to 1 -- there's no place to go but up
>
> Suspensions plummet with peer mediation, but at this school, it's just another program that's going away
>
> At Reedley (CA) High School, suspensions drop 40%, expulsions 80% in two years with PBIS, restorative justice; but going the distance might require more tools.
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89%
>
> Trying to make LA schools less toxic is hit-and-miss; relatively few students receive the care they need
>
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education
>
> A trauma-informed school wasn’t part of my plan, but now it’s my life’s work
>
>
>
> To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings.
> To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here.
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...7#419434030833767767> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...le/18046878013666156> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...ported-ning-category> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...m/general-discussion>
> Hi, Leony: The schools in Washington State that are receiving trauma-informed training from the Washington State University Area Health Education Center don't screen for ACEs.
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools --  <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08/20/spokaneschools/>Spokane, WA
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA    <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08...chool-in-spokane-wa/> -- Spokane, WA
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85% <http://acestoohigh.com/2012/04...-expulsions-drop-85/>
> (Students in this high school did their own anonymous ACE survey, and added more questions, but the school doesn't.)
> Neither does the HEARTS program in San Francisco, nor Cherokee Point Elementary in San Diego, CA.
> (At Cherokee Point Elementary, kids don't conform to school; school conforms to kids <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/07...ol-conforms-to-kids/>
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89% <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/01...l-dorado-elementary/>
>
> This high school in Minnesota does:
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...-informed-education/>
> Do a member search for Leisa Irwin, and you'll find other blog posts where she provides much more detail about screening and how they use the information. I know she'd be glad to answer any questions.
>
> I've heard that some schools in New Haven were planning on screening, and we'll be checking that out.
>
> I hope this helps!
>
> Cheers, Jane
>
>   <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...w-its-my-lifes-work/>
> .
>
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85% <http://acestoohigh.com/2012/04...-expulsions-drop-85/>
>
> x
>
> A community play called ZERO tips Sacramento, CA, into tackling school suspensions <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/05...-school-suspensions/>
>
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08/20/spokaneschools/> Spokane, WA
>
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA    <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08...chool-in-spokane-wa/> -- Spokane, WA
>
> The Restorative Justice League of Le Grand High School jumps in to save the day <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/09...e-grand-high-school/> -- Le Grand, CA
>
> In Vallejo, CA, schools -- where referrals, suspensions, expulsions outnumbered students 5 to 1 -- there's no place to go but up <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/10/24/vallejoschools/>
>
> Suspensions plummet with peer mediation, but at this school, it's just another program that's going away <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/12...am-thats-going-away/>
>
> At Reedley (CA) High School, suspensions drop 40%, expulsions 80% in two years with PBIS, restorative justice; but going the distance might require more tools. <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/01...-require-more-tools/>
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89% <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/01...l-dorado-elementary/>
>
> Trying to make LA schools less toxic is hit-and-miss; relatively few students receive the care they need <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/03...eive-care-they-need/>
>
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...-informed-education/>
>
> A trauma-informed school wasn’t part of my plan, but now it’s my life’s work <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...w-its-my-lifes-work/>
>
>
>
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...7#419434030833767767>
> To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings.
> To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here.
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/>
> To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings <https://www.pacesconnection.com/notifications>.
> To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...67997BC8747EEB7B0856>.
> Powered By Hoop.la <http://assets.socialstrata.com...ng/goto.php?a=hoopla>
Hi Jane,

I have some more questions:
I see Leisa Irwin is working with high school kids. Do you know any elementary school that used ace-questionaires to screen children? With such young children you can’t have them fill in the questionnaire. Do you know if they ask parents to do that? I also remember reading some time that the ace-questionnaire was adapted to younger children.
And I am also interested in the reasons that a lot of schools don’t use the ACE-questionnaire. Do you know more about that?

Thanks so much!


Best,


Leony Coppens

Klinisch psycholoog
Cognitief gedragstherapeut VGCt
EMDR-practitioner
www.leonycoppens.nl



> Op 29 mei 2015, om 01:44 heeft ACEsConnection <communitymanager@acesconnection.com> het volgende geschreven:
>
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/>
> Hi, Leony: The schools in Washington State that are receiving trauma-informed training from the Washington State University Area Health Education Center don't screen for ACEs.
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- Spokane, WA
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA -- Spokane, WA
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85%
> (Students in this high school did their own anonymous ACE survey, and added more questions, but the school doesn't.)
> Neither does the HEARTS program in San Francisco, nor Cherokee Point Elementary in San Diego, CA.
> (At Cherokee Point Elementary, kids don't conform to school; school conforms to kids)
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89%
>
> This high school in Minnesota does:
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education
> Do a member search for Leisa Irwin, and you'll find other blog posts where she provides much more detail about screening and how they use the information. I know she'd be glad to answer any questions.
>
> I've heard that some schools in New Haven were planning on screening, and we'll be checking that out.
>
> I hope this helps!
>
> Cheers, Jane
>
>
> .
>
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85%
>
> x
>
> A community play called ZERO tips Sacramento, CA, into tackling school suspensions
>
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- Spokane, WA
>
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA -- Spokane, WA
>
> The Restorative Justice League of Le Grand High School jumps in to save the day -- Le Grand, CA
>
> In Vallejo, CA, schools -- where referrals, suspensions, expulsions outnumbered students 5 to 1 -- there's no place to go but up
>
> Suspensions plummet with peer mediation, but at this school, it's just another program that's going away
>
> At Reedley (CA) High School, suspensions drop 40%, expulsions 80% in two years with PBIS, restorative justice; but going the distance might require more tools.
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89%
>
> Trying to make LA schools less toxic is hit-and-miss; relatively few students receive the care they need
>
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education
>
> A trauma-informed school wasn’t part of my plan, but now it’s my life’s work
>
>
>
> To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings.
> To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here.
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...7#419434030833767767> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...le/18046878013666156> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...ported-ning-category> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...m/general-discussion>
> Hi, Leony: The schools in Washington State that are receiving trauma-informed training from the Washington State University Area Health Education Center don't screen for ACEs.
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools --  <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08/20/spokaneschools/>Spokane, WA
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA    <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08...chool-in-spokane-wa/> -- Spokane, WA
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85% <http://acestoohigh.com/2012/04...-expulsions-drop-85/>
> (Students in this high school did their own anonymous ACE survey, and added more questions, but the school doesn't.)
> Neither does the HEARTS program in San Francisco, nor Cherokee Point Elementary in San Diego, CA.
> (At Cherokee Point Elementary, kids don't conform to school; school conforms to kids <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/07...ol-conforms-to-kids/>
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89% <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/01...l-dorado-elementary/>
>
> This high school in Minnesota does:
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...-informed-education/>
> Do a member search for Leisa Irwin, and you'll find other blog posts where she provides much more detail about screening and how they use the information. I know she'd be glad to answer any questions.
>
> I've heard that some schools in New Haven were planning on screening, and we'll be checking that out.
>
> I hope this helps!
>
> Cheers, Jane
>
>   <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...w-its-my-lifes-work/>
> .
>
> Lincoln High School in Walla Walla, WA, tries a new approach to school discipline; suspensions drop 85% <http://acestoohigh.com/2012/04...-expulsions-drop-85/>
>
> x
>
> A community play called ZERO tips Sacramento, CA, into tackling school suspensions <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/05...-school-suspensions/>
>
> There's no such thing as a bad kid in these Spokane, WA, trauma-informed elementary schools -- <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08/20/spokaneschools/> Spokane, WA
>
> Q-and-A with Suzanne Savall, principal of trauma-informed elementary school in Spokane, WA    <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/08...chool-in-spokane-wa/> -- Spokane, WA
>
> The Restorative Justice League of Le Grand High School jumps in to save the day <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/09...e-grand-high-school/> -- Le Grand, CA
>
> In Vallejo, CA, schools -- where referrals, suspensions, expulsions outnumbered students 5 to 1 -- there's no place to go but up <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/10/24/vallejoschools/>
>
> Suspensions plummet with peer mediation, but at this school, it's just another program that's going away <http://acestoohigh.com/2013/12...am-thats-going-away/>
>
> At Reedley (CA) High School, suspensions drop 40%, expulsions 80% in two years with PBIS, restorative justice; but going the distance might require more tools. <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/01...-require-more-tools/>
>
> San Francisco's El Dorado Elementary uses trauma-informed & restorative practices; suspensions drop 89% <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/01...l-dorado-elementary/>
>
> Trying to make LA schools less toxic is hit-and-miss; relatively few students receive the care they need <http://acestoohigh.com/2014/03...eive-care-they-need/>
>
> Minnesota high school screens students for ACEs to develop trauma-informed education <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...-informed-education/>
>
> A trauma-informed school wasn’t part of my plan, but now it’s my life’s work <http://acestoohigh.com/2015/04...w-its-my-lifes-work/>
>
>
>
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...7#419434030833767767>
> To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings.
> To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here.
> <https://www.pacesconnection.com/>
> To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings <https://www.pacesconnection.com/notifications>.
> To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here <https://www.pacesconnection.com/...67997BC8747EEB7B0856>.
> Powered By Hoop.la <http://assets.socialstrata.com...ng/goto.php?a=hoopla>

Hi everyone who posted here. After our first Trauma-Informed school meeting where we presented the basics, we discussed doing the ACEs screening so I am curious about this as well. We were a little concerned because  what if the student (older student) answers yes to some of these ---- parents may become very angry because schools are mandated reporters and how does one get around this problem.  When counselors first came into the school districts here, kids who were having problems were automatically sent there, then there was huge outrage because kids were telling about family members who were abusing them and this was disrupting the families.  I think it is good that kids were letting the counselors know what was happening to them. But the policy got changed such that kids would only be able to see the counselor if parents opted in for that service.  Thanks

Hi, Leony:

Sorry -- I didn't see your other questions. The Spokane and SF school in the story list are integrating trauma-informed practices, and ACES is a part of the curriculum for teachers, staff, etc. But I don't know of any elementary schools that screen for ACEs, although I heard that some folks in Connecticut wanted to. I don't think it's necessary, actually. With trauma-aware teachers, principals and staff, and trauma-informed responses put in place at all levels in the school, it doesn't matter what the event is so much as what the response is. Of course, if a child is being physically, sexually or verbally abused, that's a level in which the response is very high and involves the family and perhaps some other organizations.

In a couple of pediatric practices in Oregon, parents of four-month-old babies are filling out their own ACE scores, as a way of helping parents develop healthy parenting practices, and to provide support during times of stress.     

     When Vermont introduced legislation [house Bill 762] requiring all Vermont Health Care providers to screen for ACEs, of all patients-regardless of age, concern was raised about the phrasing of questions...And one of our ACEs Connection members in Vermont was tasked with developing suitable phrasing, et cetera. She may be able to offer some input into what, if any, screening is done in schools, possibly by school nurses.

The World Health Organization's [modified] ACE screening tool, which they used in their 2013 assessment of the world's healthiest children, has Eighteen basic questions, [rather than the ten in our CDC/Kaiser ACE study], with "sub-questions", and is available on their website. That 2013 WHO survey identified the nation with the world's healthiest children as The Netherlands. Scandinavia followed, ...the U.S. was 25th, and Canada was 26th.

Last edited by Robert Olcott

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