My co-author and I facilitated our first community talk, “The preventable death of Anna, age eight in New Mexico” yesterday. I’m eager to review my notes. It felt like the beginning of something very important. It’s gratifying to see a book on the data-driven prevention of childhood trauma and maltreatment turning into a catalyst for community dialogue focused on change.
We had presentation participants from the child welfare, public health and education sectors and all levels of government. Attendees had expertise in restorative justice, child protective services, early childhood learning, higher education and one of our state’s most respected think tanks and policy advocates.
Our presentation started with providing an overview of Anna’s story, her extensive involvement with child protective services, how her case fell through the cracks and the challenges the current child welfare system faces. This was an overview of Chapter 5: An infant, a motel room, and a pile of needles: The impossible work of child welfare pros. For those not familiar with how child welfare works, it’s an eye-opening conversation.
We then discussed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Our activity was simple, seven people stood and read the stories of children with various ACEs scores. (While the children are not real, the situations described are.) Participants were reminded that a fourth of the child population will endure three or more ACEs and most of these adverse experiences fly under the radar of childhood protective services.
I’m Nathan. I live in a household where: 1: A parent often pushes me and once hit him so hard that there were marks. 2: A parent is a problem drinker. 3: My parents are separated. My Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) score is 3.
I’m Kirsty. I live in a household where: 1: An adult fondled me in a sexual way. 2: A parent is a problem drinker. My ACEs score is 2:
I’m Pauline. I live in a household where:1: A parent acts in a way that makes me afraid. 2: A parent is an alcoholic 3: My mother was grabbed and bruised by my dad 4: A household member is depressed 5: I feel that no one in my family loves me. My ACEs score is 5.
I’m Jen. My best friend and neighbor Amy lives in a household where: 1: She very often feels that no one in her family looks out for each other. 2: Has no one to protect her. 3: She lives with a problem drinker. 4: A household member is depressed. My ACEs score is 0. But my friend’s score is 4.
I’m Camila. I live in a household where: 1: A household member attempted suicide. 2: Parents are misusing prescription drugs and using street drugs. 3: A household member went to prison. My ACEs score is 3.
We are Sammy and Sarah. We live in a household where: 1: We feel that the family doesn’t look out for each other. 2: A parent is depressed. 3: We often don’t have enough to eat. Our ACEs score is 3.
I'm Eddy. I live in household where: 1: A member is mentally ill. 2: Parents are separated. My ACEs score is 2.
This activity was quite powerful, leading to a conversation about what our children with high ACEs scores need and what types of services would help their families. We discussed what data-driven prevention looks like and walked folks through the programs needed on the state, county, city and school levels to make meaningful positive change. Our talking points came from Chapter 7: Because this is America: Why your zip code should not determine your destiny.
We discussed the importance of school-based behavioral health care for students and their family members at every school, reviewing Chapter 6: Trauma’s fuel tank: The ongoing crisis in mental healthcare.
We pitched to attendees the idea of Child Welfare 2.0 as a way to strengthen trauma prevention and family health promotion efforts in every county. We discussed the difference between today’s Child Welfare 1.0 and our proposed Child Welfare 2.0. The bottom line is that our new version focuses as much on prevention as intervention, data informs all action, and each county office works in collaboration with county, city and school government leadership.
As we neared the end of the talk, people were in small groups brainstorming their next steps. We handed everyone the contact information of local stakeholders, key to moving us forward. We know a lot of emails will be heading toward our mayor, city council people, county manager and commissioners, school superintendent and school board, and our state legislature behavioral health subcommittee members. Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter should be buzzing with thoughts about preventing another Anna, age eight.
The event ended with people asking how they can support our talks and next steps. Phrases like “revolutionary,” “social moonshot” and “reboot the system” flowed easily.
As we get ready for our next “Anna, age eight” presentation, I can see that these gatherings are more than just community presentations. What’s evolving is a movement.
A community conversation on Child Welfare 2.0. The authors of Anna, Age Eight: The data-driven prevention of childhood trauma and maltreatment, Katherine Ortega Courtney, PhD and Dominic Cappello, discuss their book focused on ending childhood trauma, engaging city hall and inventing a new type of child welfare system focused on prevention—a monumental challenge that requires the engagement of all of us. Thursday, July 26, 2018 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Santa Fe Community Foundation. Fees: FREE. For more information and to reserve a seat:https://www.santafecf.org/what...mp;cdt=7%2f26%2f2018
Download a chapter free of charge. www.AnnaAgeEight.org
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