Need advice on introducing ACE Screening in our child and family organization

I would look at The Illinois ACEs Response Collaborative. They represent a broad range of organizations committed to a trauma sensitive climate. They partner with Health &Medicine Policy Research Group to helping drive their mission.

Hi, Roisin: You might check out the articles in the group, Taking an ACEs History — Who's Doing It and How?

Hi Roisin,

I'm delighted to hear of steps you are taking with ACEs! I thought I'd comment briefly on resources. I'd suggest that you give respondents an opportunity to debrief with a counselor or therapist after taking the survey. Often answering questions, even yes or no questions, can bring back memories of trauma that people have not yet processed.  Having the opportunity to check in with a therapist, even if it's simply for a few kind words or a referral to someone for additional support can make a big difference in someone's life. If you don't have anyone qualified on your staff, you may be able to access some resources from your county or another nonprofit. 

I'd love to hear how this process goes for you! Please keep us updated. 

Leisa

I might pass along advice that was given at a conference at which I was present.  The speaker was Dr. Vincent Felitti,  who, of course, is one of the principal investigators of the ACE study.  He indicated that the form could be filled out by the parent in the waiting room while waiting for the appointment.  He cautioned not to have the parent fill it out while you or the therapist is sitting there.  He didn't indicate why, but I suspect it was because the accuracy of the responses might suffer because of a lack of candor or because of a desire to please the therapist.  He also recommended going over the form with the parent, though.  One could say, "I see here that you marked...".   Of course, Dr. Felitti is a member of this group, so perhaps he could comment or set straight any inadvertent issues with what I have said here.

One nice feature of the ACE screener is that it doesn't require a licensed counselor to administer it.  However, debriefing on it with a counselor would be optimum, as noted in a previous post on this page.  We are screening all our counseling clients, using the traditional ACE screener for the parent and the child version of the screener as developed by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.  If you do a search for her name, you will be able to find it.

I think those who are also using a resilience screener along with the ACE screener are to be commended.  One version of this can be found at the following link:

 https://www.aap.org/en-us/Docu...ars_ace_screener.pdf

Hope this helps.  The ACE study and its associated body of knowledge is, to my mind, some of the single most important work in the field of health and mental health ever conducted, and I think it has tremendous power not only to advance science but also to make better the lives of the suffering.  I hope what I have written here will be of some help to you.