The Adverse Childhood Experiences Conference got underway tonight in San Francisco with many of the 450 participants attending a meet-and-greet at the Park Central Hotel. The conference focuses on moving from “Awareness to Action”, and includes representatives from education, early childhood, juvenile justice, child welfare, pediatrics, and many other dedicated professionals committed to the ACEs movement.
(Left to Right) Michelle Allen; Vanessa Jackson (Parents Anonymous), Dalila Butler (Policy Link), Ben Rubin (Children Now), Lisa Pion-Berlin (Parents Anonymous)
Featured speakers over the next two days include Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, CEO of the Center for Youth Wellness; Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; Dr. Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment; Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the director of the pediatric residency program at Hurley Medical Center in Detroit who raised alarms about lead poisoning in that city; actor and activist Ashley Judd, who will attend an informal gathering of participants.
Tomorrow, breakout sessions will explore how people from different sectors are integrating skills and practices based on ACEs science in early, middle and adolescent childhood. Another workshop will explore the determinants of ACEs and toxic stress, including systems and community stressors. One session looks into workforce development, and another workshop will help participants learn how to leverage the ACEs Connection Network in their local ACEs initiatives.
A pediatric symposium runs currently tomorrow, and speakers will present the latest research on the physiological effects of ACEs and toxic stress, and several pediatricians will explain how they’re implementing practices based on ACEs science, including screening parents and children for adverse childhood experiences.
Participants gathered tonight for a welcome reception and motivational message from Dr. Burke Harris, who reminded us all, "It's ok to dream big. We can accomplish really big things when we come together."
Dave Lockridge from ACE Overcomers and Nadine Burke Harris from Center for Youth Wellness
Jennifer Hossler of ACEs Connection with Nicole Gregson, Elowyn Smith, and Laura Peterson of Ptarmigan Pediatrics in Wasilla, Alaska (#selfie)
Such an awesome opening session - I met folks from Seattle, Virginia, Alaska, DC, Hawaii, New York, Tennessee... as well as lots of friends from communities around CA. Stay tuned for lots of updates throughout the conference. Wish you ALL were here!
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