ChildWise Institute has been advancing awareness and knowledge of the ACE Study for almost 4 years now.
Through us, Montana became the 4th state In the nation to have an ACE Master Trainer Program. We have 21 Master Trainers all across the state, which is a big deal because IT'S A BIG STATE! Montana is the 4th largest state in the nation, geographically, but has a population of only about 1 million people!
Montana has some unique issues we are trying to address: large geography to cover; small population spread out over that large geography; many, many small towns with little or no mental or physical healthcare available; tribal nations with high ACE scores and cultural trauma issues; and until now, very little knowledge of the ACE Study and its implications, combined with some resistance to the ACE Study implications -- i.e., "Oh c'mon. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!"
Montana is historically (and to this day) a very independent-thinking culture. This state was founded on hard work and grit, and that mentality is still very prominent, which is not a bad thing at all. Shoot! Our nation as founded on the same thing! Sometimes, that "grit" gets in the way of the reality of how childhood adversity can affect us over the lifetime.
There is good news, though! Because of our own hard work and grit, and that of many collaborative relationships, the ACE Study, trauma-informed approaches, and resilience-building strategies are beginning to take center stage! One example of this is the Montana Department of Health & Human Services. Our director, Richard Opper, immediately embraced the ACE Study in 2013 as important research, and is doing something about it.
Using three of our Master Trainers (embedded in the DHPPS), he has publically committed to having all 3,000-plus DPHHS staff trained in ACEs! We may be the first state in the nation to have a fully ACE-trained Department of Human Servies! Granted, our DPHHS is likely much smaller than your state's, but it's not about the size -- it's about the impact!
So, the work continues, but we are making tremendous strides! Please take note that one important source of our energy to do this hard work comes from you all -- those who are part of ACEs Connection. Thank you for all you're doing to elevate the well-being of our children!
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