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Maryland lawmakers attend conference on tackling child trauma through policy [Capital Gazette]

 

Photo caption and credit:  Frank Kros, President of the Kros Learning Group, explains The N.E.A.R. Science to the group. The Maryland General Assembly held an event to inform them about how to make trauma informed policy decisions, and informing them about the consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). (Paul W. Gillespie)

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If adverse childhood experiences were eliminated entirely, rates of depression could plummet, heart disease and obesity could become less prominent, and smoking and heavy drinking could decline, Melissa Merrick, president and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, told Maryland lawmakers Friday morning.

Gathered ahead of the upcoming session for a day-long conference on how Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, can have lasting impacts on individuals and communities, nine Maryland legislators, including Del. Alice Cain, D-Annapolis, learned about how policy can help.

“I thought it was phenomenal,” Cain said. “I’m thrilled this issue is getting the attention that it deserves."

Cain said she’s already requested organizers come to the statehouse during the legislative session to ensure more lawmakers get the message.

She serves on the Education subcommittee of the Ways and Means Committee, and she said it became apparent to her that teachers are not being adequately prepared to deal with the trauma students bring into the classroom.

Del. C.T. Wilson, D-Charles County, who previously testified during a Senate committee hearing about his own experience of being abused as a child, attended the event. He said he wished he was joined by more of his colleagues.

To read the entire Dec. 14 article by Olivia Sanchez, click here.  

 





 

 

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It would be great if we expanded the neuroscience that we attend to with N.E.A.R. to what we know about the development of emotional regulation in the child through right brain development in interaction with the mother. I don’t know of anyway to really prevent the transmission of adversity except  to, in the fullest extent possible, make sure that the infant has a fiercely protective caregiver. What child is going to collect 6 ACEs with a fiercely protective mother bear as a mother? 

Plus when the mother builds the capacity for healthy emotional regulation in the infant, that infant will be able to transmit healthy emotional regulation to her child and you’ve broken the generational cycle.  That’s really important.... the capacity to function in a healthy manner in the world in relationship to others as a social and socialized human being. 

 

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