Greetings PACEs Connection members. I bring this blog post to you as a woman who has filled many roles. Daughter, sister, student, wife, mom, friend, advocate, and a few others. My roles continue to merge, molding me into who I am. One of my roles, student (again), brought me to PACEs Connection and I would like to reflect on that briefly while I also raise awareness about another organization. I thank you ahead of time for reading this and I welcome comments or questions!
Intern was not a title I envisioned mid-life or mid-career. Practicing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) is what I thought I would do for the duration of my working days. But life is a journey, bringing new experiences, obstacles, and adventures. My personal journey, and the journey my family has taken over the past 3.5 years, brought me to where I am today, nearing completion of a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.
The year 2020 was a time of incredible shifts around the world. This held true for my life as well; I was part of what many referred to as The Mass Resignation. My clinical career came to an end, or possibly a pause, in October of 2020 so I could explore healthcare from a different perspective and begin my pursuit of a MPH. Public health in 2020 most often meant COVID-19. For me, public health in 2020 meant shifting my focus to a different serious public health threat, one that is not new, but also not always widely addressed; childhood experiences - adverse and positive - and the impact those experiences have on a child’s health trajectory and well-being across a lifespan.
Experiences that children have, but have no control over, are the driving force for where I am today. The shifts continue as I gain knowledge and experience. We aim to decrease adverse experiences, but while we do that, we also have a great opportunity to promote the positives. Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) occur every day. They are simple. They are meaningful. They are impactful. They make a difference and can actually directly counteract the impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). As I write this, I realize that I am preaching to the choir. You are reading this blog post, so something brought you to PACEs Connection.
PACEs Connection is the organization for which I held the title of 2022 Fall Intern. Again, not a title I envisioned for myself, but one that I am so grateful to have held. Could the organizational acronym fit the mold of my public health pursuit any better? This network of passionate people and passionate communities is truly remarkable.
There are many other organizations also serving the purpose of promoting positive experiences, building resilience, and mitigating adversity. I truly believe that things happen for a reason and I landed on a webinar one day that eventually led me to this organization called Reach Out and Read, specifically the team in Michigan. I have now been a member of that team for nearly a year and our adventures have been profoundly grand. I love Michigan and could talk about RORMi (Reach Out and Read Michigan) all day, but I bring Reach Out and Read (ROR) to this post for a very specific reason; positive is at the core of this organization. From coast to coast, ROR is impacting children and families.
I bring ROR to raise awareness. It is an intervention that pediatric health care providers implement during well-child visits, or check-ups, for children from birth to 5 years of age. Providers use tools such as stethoscopes and otoscopes during well-child visits. ROR provides another tool, a book. That book is used to assess development, monitor caregiver and child interaction, model reading, provide anticipatory guidance, and maybe be a symbol of other social emotional red flags. Every visit looks different and every book will offer different opportunities for the provider. The book will also offer opportunities for the children and families because they go home with the brand new, culturally and developmentally appropriate book. Now they have a tool, and eventually their own library, to create literacy rich interactions.
The previous paragraph is incredibly important, but it does not directly portray the piece that drew me to ROR. The literacy rich interactions I mention above hold an abundance of potential for positive experiences. Togetherness, bonding, giggling, smiling, cuddling, learning, growing, loving, and so much more. The simple act of reading aloud with a child offers potential far beyond a love for reading. It offers moments that matter that will impact each child for life. Reading aloud can directly impact health and wellness across a lifespan.
If you are a parent, ask your child’s health care provider if they participate in Reach Out and Read. If they don’t, encourage them to join! If you are a pediatric provider or work in a pediatric office, look into the program by visiting www.reachoutandread.org. You may even have a local affiliate who can answer all sorts of questions. For my fellow Michiganders, please visit www.reachoutandreadmi.org. And most importantly, no matter who you are or what roles you fill, pick up a book and read to a child.
My time at PACEs Connection came to an end in December, but I look to the individuals and the communities to continue spreading awareness about the impact of positive experiences…they DO make a difference!
Happy New Year and best wishes to this entire community who works each and every day for children and our collective future!
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