Robin Saenger, who was the driving force behind the creation of Peace4Tarpon when she was vice mayor of Tarpon Springs, FL, wrote this letter to the Tampa Bay Times, in response to David Brooks' column "The Psych Approach", that featured the CDC's ACE Study.
The psych approach | Sept. 30, commentary
Key to a better future
Thanks to David Brooks for shining a bright light on the ACE study. It is possibly the most significant research of our time and yet is relatively unknown.
It is what made the nickel drop for me when, as an elected official, I tried to make sense of why our city was continually faced with a growing number of challenges despite the dedicated efforts of so many agencies, systems and individuals.
As a result, two years ago, Peace4Tarpon Trauma Informed Community Initiative was formed to understand how trauma and unaddressed ACE scores play out throughout our city.
We determined that if the many partners we have in Tarpon Springs began working together using trauma as a common lens, the result would be a healthier, more thriving community.
Understanding the ACE study and its implications was the key that would open the door to a different future.
I imagine someday folks will look back and shake their heads as to why it took so long to connect these dots, just as today we look back at Dr. Joseph Lister, who understood the implications of surgeons washing their hands and sterilizing equipment.
Robin Saenger, Tarpon Springs
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