Why your faith community should know about ACEs [HelenAir.com]

As I begin to share with faith communities throughout Montana why adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) matter and how they can help build more resilient children and healthier communities, I sometimes hear something like this: "But why does it matter? What difference should it make in ministry?” The ACE survey measured the prevalence of 10 stress-inducing factors in childhood including abuse, neglect and substance abuse in the home, and these factors definitely influence ministries throughout Montana. The issues children and teens face growing up in Montana can be daunting, but the faith-based community can help hurting children by building safe, welcoming communities for all children to thrive.

In an effort to pull together the tremendous resources our faith communities possess, I’ll be facilitating a conversation at ChildWise’s Fall Conference in Helena on Resilience, Sept. 29-30. My hope is that dozens of congregations from across Montana could be represented, and their involvement would start a much-needed conversation in their churches, synagogues and fellowships.