The inputs a brain experiences during its developmental stages have a profound impact on whether that person will develop a substance use disorder (if they choose to drink or use other drugs). In turn, developing a substance use disorder (SUD) as a tween, teen, or young adult dramatically influences that person's brain development. And why is understanding this causality important? The risk factors for developing a substance use disorder are the result of inputs the brain experiences (or...

UCSF News Services: California Selects UCSFTrauma Screening Tool for Statewide Initiative to Combat Adverse Childhood Experiences.http://ucsf.edu/news/2019/12/416111/california-selects-ucsf-trauma-screening-tool-statewide-initiative-combat

Kevin A. Johnson Adler Graduate School Minnetonka, MN I was first introduced to ACE study while I was working on my undergraduate degree in psychology. I was working as an intern at an outpatient, gender-responsive, trauma-informed MICD facility. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn the nuances of providing a special level of care to a very resilient population. The curriculum that was being used was written by Dr. Stephanie Covington and Richard Dauer. During my time at this site, I had...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified child maltreatment as a major public health concern, and adult survivors of child maltreatment are at significant risk of chronic disease and premature mortality. This constant exposure to child maltreatment makes these health care practitioners uniquely vulnerable to stressors associated with burnout.

Dr. Kristina Brinkerhoff, a consultant, keynote speaker, presenter and trainer, leverages over 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent and adoptive mom of five foster children, to help educators gain an understanding of the effects Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the importance of trauma informed practice in schools.