Protecting Our Children: COVID-19's Impact on Early Childhood and ACEs

While children are not at high risk for contracting COVID-19, the pandemic has disrupted their lives and exacerbated challenges to children’s health and well-being. Children’s poverty rates could increase by 53% during the pandemic. The economic consequences include increased food insecurity and housing instability. Additionally, school closures are putting kids at risk for toxic stress, with 1 in 3 public school students lacking adequate access to the resources necessary for remote learning. The short- and long-term impact of this constantly evolving situation is not evenly distributed and may have massive consequences for the most vulnerable children. This webinar will bring together experts to provide information and guidance on early childhood development, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and COVID-19’s impact on children.

Speakers will discuss:

• The importance of early childhood experiences in lifelong health and how adversity affects both the developing brain and other physiological systems
• What ACEs initiatives are doing to respond to COVID-19 and the opportunities and challenges the pandemic has produced for professionals in the field
• Lessons from a health plan’s investment in programming that addresses ACEs, including education on ACEs for teachers, policy makers and health care professionals

Speakers

Jack Shonkoff, MD

Director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Jane Stevens

Founder and Publisher of ACEs Connection

Paul Hollie

Head of Premera’s Social Impact Program

Maurice Lee

Chief Operating Officer at Navos