New and Noteworthy

Safe Spaces: Foundations of Trauma-Informed Practice for Educational and Care Settings

Today (July 12) the Office of the California Surgeon General released a free, online professional learning module designed to help early care and education personnel respond to trauma and stress in children.  The training is self-paced and consists of three modules, two hours each, focusing on three age groups, including 0-5, 5-11, and 12-18. It is offered in both English and Spanish. 

The training has two goals: 

• Provide greater awareness of the impact of stress and trauma on health, development, and learning. 
• Provide key mindsets and strategies to respond with trauma-informed principles and help create the conditions for safe and supportive learning environments for everyone.

New ACEs Aware Webinar Series: ACEs and Trauma-Informed Care in Reproductive Health

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can affect health outcomes throughout life and across generations. Sexual and reproductive health care teams have a unique opportunity to partner with patients to provide support and improve outcomes.  

Recognizing the impact of ACEs and cumulative adversity on reproductive and perinatal health, ACEs Aware is launching a three-part webinar series, led by Sara Johnson, MD, an OB/GYN and adviser to the ACEs Aware initiative. The series will provide the fundamentals about ACEs and trauma-informed care, share practical tips and tools for application in sexual and reproductive health care settings, and facilitate thought-provoking discussion with practitioners who are actively engaged in this work. 

ACEs and Trauma-Informed Care in Reproductive Health: Fundamentals and Priorities in the Field

August 16, 2023 

12 – 1 pm 

In the first webinar in a three-part series -- ACEs and Trauma-Informed Care in Reproductive Health: Fundamentals and Priorities in the Field -- participants will learn about the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how a trauma-informed approach can be applied in sexual and reproductive health settings.  

Led by Sara Johnson, MD, an OB/GYN and adviser to the ACEs Aware initiative, the webinar will provide a foundation of simple practice shifts and a discussion with Amanda Williams, MD, MPH, about how this work aligns with key priorities in the field, such as health equity and mental health; lessons learned from rolling out perinatal ACE screening in a large health system; and how and why she centers her own well-being while working to advance Reproductive Justice. 

Continuing Education credit will be available. 

Putting Implementation Into Action

News, Resources, and Research

NEWS

First 5 California Launches Stronger Starts Campaign

On June 1, First 5 California announced the launch of the Stronger Starts campaign to raise awareness among California parents and caregivers about toxic stress response in children ages 0-5 due to the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The campaign helps parents and caregivers learn about toxic stress, the physical, mental, and emotional effects of toxic stress on children, and how ACEs can lead to the development of toxic stress.

Access the Campaign Website →

U.S. Surgeon General Advisory: The Healing Effects of Social Connections

On May 2, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an Advisory and National Strategy highlighting the growing number of individuals in the U.S. who are experiencing loneliness, isolation, and disconnection. The Surgeon General lays out a national strategy to advance social connection, including a six-pillar framework with detailed recommendations. 

Access the Advisory →

RESOURCES

July is National Minority (BIPOC) Mental Health Awareness Month

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month is observed each July to bring awareness to the unique struggles that racial and ethnic minority communities face regarding mental illness in the U.S. Throughout the month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health is promoting tools and resources addressing the stigma of mental health among racial and ethnic minority populations. 

Access the Resources →

RECENT RESEARCH

Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences Among U.S. Adults - Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, 2011-2020

June 2023 | CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Read →

Screening for ACEs, assessing risk for toxic stress, and responding with evidence-based interventions and trauma-informed care can significantly improve the health and well-being of individuals and families.

Already completed the training?

Providers with National Provider Identifiers should attest on the DHCS website so they can become eligible for Medi-Cal reimbursement for screening.

“Health is more than the absence of disease. Health is about jobs and employment, education, the environment, and all of those things that go into making us healthy.”

– Joycelyn Elders

 Former U.S. Surgeon General

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