A briefing on the Science of Trauma for Senate and House staff, organized by Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND) and Representative Grace Napolitano (CA), will be held on Wednesday, May 25th at 2:30 pm in 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) is the sponsor. Speakers will include two CTIPP founding members, Elizabeth Prewitt, who will talk about the ACE study and its implications, and Zack Kaminsky, who will discuss epigenetics and the intergenerational transmission of trauma. They will be joined by Nathan Fox, who will talk about the impact of trauma on the brain and mind/body. The program will be moderated by another CTIPP founding member, Wendy Ellis. The hearing room is large, so off-the-Hill stakeholders are welcome to attend. Plans are being made to videotape the event, and additional briefings on trauma-informed practice and trauma policy are also under discussion. Here is the agenda:
The Science of Trauma Congressional Briefing
Sponsored by The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice
Hosted by Senator Heidi Heitkamp (ND) and Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA)
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
2:30pm to 3:30pm
562 Dirksen Senate Office Building
The Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) Study measures exposure to trauma and toxic stress in childhood. People who have experienced four or more ACEs - such as living in poverty, experiencing emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or exposure to substance abuse or mental illness - have triple the lifetime risk of heart disease and lung cancer and a 20-year difference in life expectancy. Those exposed to six or more have a 30-fold increase in attempted suicide.
This briefing will present the basic science of toxic stress, trauma and resilience, including impact on the developing brain, effects across the lifespan, and mechanisms of inter-generational transmission.
AGENDA
Welcome and Introductions
- Wendy Ellis, DrPH, MPH
Nemours
Panel Presentation
- The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study and its Implications
Elizabeth Prewitt
ACEs Connection Network
- Impact of Trauma on the Brain and Mind/Body
Nathan Fox, PhD
University of Maryland Child Development Lab
- Epigenetics and the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma
Zach Kaminsky, PhD
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Questions and Answers
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