Social workers, educators and community leaders from around Clark County gathered in Battle Ground last week to hear a talk on building resiliency in children and mitigating the effects of adverse childhood experiences in local youth.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a psychological term that describes a traumatic event or stressor which affects the growth and development – and often the behavioral trajectory – of a child. ACEs refer to some of the most tragic events in society, from childhood psychological, physical and sexual abuse to emotional and physical neglect. In many affected households, children witness alcoholism, spousal abuse, and drug use. ACES can affect children who lose parents to prison or early death.
Helping children avoid traumatic experiences may sound like common sense, but new science has led to a more comprehensive understanding of the extent to which ACEs can damage a child’s ability to self-regulate or form healthy relationships.
“When you’re living in a highly traumatic experience in your daily life, your cortisol levels and your adrenaline levels are going to be elevated,” said Cyndie Meyer, program manager for chronic disease prevention for Clark County Public Health. “Over time, that bathes (a child’s) developing brain and actually changes the way (the) brain develops. So, they think differently.’’
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