Anita Wadhwani, The Tennessean
As research emerges about the impact of trauma on a child’s developing brain, state leaders are grappling with the thorny problem of how to balance science with justice when dealing with violent and criminal teens.
The development issues are commonly referred to as “adverse childhood experiences” – and they impact just about every public entity that encounters children – from public schools to the Department of Children’s Services to hospitals and the criminal justice system. Lawmakers this year agreed to invest $1.4 million to tackle the matter, with an open invitation to nonprofits and others to come forward with their own ideas on how to address the consequences of trauma.