Trauma, the result of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), can only be prevented if we have an understanding of the root causes of childhood adversity. We know that a quarter of our children will endure at least three ACEs, which means living in households where adults misuse substances, are threatening or violent, have untreated mental health challenges, are abusive and neglectful, are dissolving marriages or are incarcerated. (We are not even talking about the one in eight children in the US who will be substantiated as maltreated by child welfare before their 18th birthday.)
So, what are the root causes? What’s really behind this epidemic of childhood trauma, and what factors do we need to consider in order to plan our way out of it? Consider the list we created in our book Anna, Age Eight, Chapter 4: Our inheritance of horrors, the complex, chaotic and invisible root causes of trauma.
Root Cause One: Along history of violence
Root Cause Two: Mental illness
Root Cause Four: We abuse and misuse substances
Root Cause Five: We’re too adaptable for our own good
Root Cause Six: Teens without resources having children
Root Cause Seven: Weak extended families
Root Cause Eight: These days, we’re more individualistic than communitarian
Root Cause Nine: Child Welfare only recently became a thing
Root Cause Ten: Humans are not good at problems like this
In Anna, Age Eight we share the next steps for people to consider after exploring the root causes of childhood trauma. I share an excerpt below.
From root causes to a plan
"We have the data to show that we all pay through the nose for childhood trauma, whether it’s in the form of a high adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) score in our own past, a larger tax bill, or diminished quality of life. With a mastery of all media, including traditional TV, radio, and outdoor advertising, plus social media, we can spread this message and educate people, just like we do with drug abuse, recycling, and the more effective political campaigns. Efforts on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook, coupled with the popularity and effectiveness of short video and infographics, can tell this story in surprisingly detailed and provocative ways.
But that’s old news: We already knew that we could get a message through with the proper organizing. It’s just a matter of skillfully connecting the dots and pushing the technology to its full potential. The question is what people will do with the information. With lots of problems, we know that a message of “please care, because this situation is awful” doesn’t work very well. But the message here is “please care, because it’s a direct threat to you and your money,” and we like our chances with that.
We need only look at the reaction to Zika and the Ebola virus to find reason for optimism. Both generated immense global concern and some mustering of resources against the problem. But why? Out of concern for the poor Bolivians or Liberians? Not a chance. We cared that much because we were afraid that Zika would go from being a problem in Santa Cruz, Bolivia to being a problem in Santa Cruz, California. We sympathized with the poor residents of Monrovia, Liberia during the Ebola outbreak, of course, but the reason we happily poured resources into the country had more to do with not wanting to see the outbreak spread to Monroe County, Illinois.
Is that cynical? Maybe, but we don’t care. Humans are more likely to take action when they perceive a threat. With childhood trauma, we now have the information to make that threat visible. If citizens and their media can get everyone to notice the anchor hanging on the necks of the comfortable, we’re optimistic that we’ll all end up doing something to help the afflicted."
That "something" can be a data-driven and collaborative prevention process taken on by a city and county government, in partnership with local child welfare and the network of behavioral health care providers. Yes, we are talking social moonshot. That's what's needed and possible. There’s much work to be done and we’re here to help you.
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