Our hats are off to the Okahoman for its expanded offering of thought-provoking articles including Grading Oklahoma. The full-page article in the Sunday July 18th issue gave rise to hope that our state is once again ready to look at our shortcomings and change our priorities and policies to realize the potential of our people. Of specific focus for the Potts Family Foundation, is the health and well-being of our youngest citizens.
To achieve positive change - moving from the bottom ten states to even being in the top 25 in childhood well-being - will require significant coordination of time, talent and investment across state agencies, non-profit organizations, business leaders, policy makers and community coalitions. Indeed, to move from the state with the most traumatized children to one that focuses on the antidote of mitigation and prevention is a goal worthy of our best efforts.
As noted in the pictograph on Child Well-Being, Oklahoma ranks 42nd of 50. For context, we have been up and down since 2018 from 44th to 42nd to 45th and back to 42nd. No one can be happy about these rankings and indications are that the 2022 report based on 2020 data will drop in part due to the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
It’s no coincidence that Oklahoma City and Tulsa were just named the two most unhealthy large cities. As Dr. Robert Block, retired Tulsa pediatrician, reminds us, all adults were once children, and we know that over 50% of our fellow Oklahomans have an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score of 1 or more. The ACE study shows a direct correlation between trauma during childhood and poor health behaviors and outcomes in adulthood.
What we have learned that gives us hope and direction is the healing power of positive experiences, especially the power of positive relationships with competent and caring adults – even one adult. For every one of the ten adversities identified in the ACE Study by Drs. Felitti and Anda, there are at least ten corresponding Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs) as identified by Amanda Morris, PhD and Jennifer Hays-Grudo, PhD. These include parent/caregiver unconditional love; spending time with a best friend; volunteering or helping others; being active in a social group; having a mentor outside of the family; living in a clean, safe home with enough food; having opportunities to learn; having a hobby; being active or playing sports; and having routines and fair rules at home. These experiences can increase resilience and protect against risk for mental and physical illness later in life. Research continues to support the fact that adults with a history of ACEs who also had several PACEs during childhood had fewer issues related to health and wellbeing.
We also know that the most critical period of a child’s life is the first three years, including the pre-birth period of fetal development. The more we can provide our youngest Oklahomans with positive relational experiences the greater that connection will translate into protection from the negative impact of adversity. Connection is protection. With intention, we can foster stronger and more resilient children creating the pathway for disrupting the pattern of poor health outcomes.
Policy-making through a trauma-informed lens and the adoption and full funding of evidence-based practices like PACEs, high-quality childcare and home visitation programs will go a long way to reversing these trends.
Linda Manaugh Pat Potts
Director of Communications & Program Support Co-Founder, Potts Family Fdn
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