How can we help people understand that asking for help is a strength?

John Trayser 9/2/175:56 PM

I keep thinking the best way to change our current problems with ACE issues is to make a national MANDATORY use of the ACE Survey at all pediatric practices. Yet, someone today said..."Is there any follow-up to the Portland pediatric story?" Are parents following through on getting counseling, etc. after sharing their ACE results? "

Does anyone have that information? Because I was getting push back today from the CEO of a big, respected Corporate Wellness coaching firm. He found the ACEs subject interesting...yet said very frankly..."We have an 11 step wellness program...but I can't can't people to commit past about #2."

I was stopped cold by his answer. Because as excited as I am about ACEs...I am finding that it feels like a scorecard for sadness more often than not.

My dream is to make a movie about it...because it has all the same issues as Al Gore's movie about global warming...An Inconvenient Truth.

There are naysayers about the bullying thing...yet we know it starts in the home.

We have SO MUCH evidence about the impact of ACEs! We could have teachers tell their stories about what they see in the classroom...regardless of grade level. We could hear from social workers...we have so much data about lack of social skills...since kids live, love and break up their relationships...all on the phone. Don't we have to start teaching respect, kindness, etc. in our schools?

Corporations are struggling to help employees dealing with health and absenteeism issues. Families go out to dinner and all sit with their cell phones. Think of how many ways our vision changes of our world when you understand the significance of ACEs.

Does anyone have a connection with anyone with that would find this project interesting...as in FUNDING? I would love to chat with Jamie Redford about this idea as Paper Tigers and Resilience have had such a great impact.

The net result of the movie would be...we CAN change! Our goal would be to Educated...Inspire...and give hope for resilience...and inspire a paradigm shift in our national discourse of medicating ourselves to opioid comfort...and motivate people to understand that reaching out for help NEEDS TO BE A STRENGTH...NOT A WEAKNESS! Otherwise we are facing the painful truth...HURT PEOPLE...HURT PEOPLE...will continue to be the status quo.

Help!

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Robert SchmittMember

Ariane Marie-Mitchell posted:
Hi John,
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful post. I have a few thoughts to share based upon my experience of screening for ACEs in pediatric practice and related research:
1) The first opportunity in Pediatric practice comes not through referrals, but through the patient care encounter itself. There is an opportunity for the pediatrician to form a supportive relationship with the parent and child, which is wholistic and healing when understanding factors like ACEs becomes an expected part of good medical care. (In support of this, see research by Howard Dubowitz on the SEEK tool as evidence that brief pediatric provider training and screening can lead to reduced child maltreatment);
2) Referrals to community resources by pediatricians are meaningful. Without structured screening for social determinants, these referrals happen only minimally. With structured screening, referral rates go up and of course all parents don't follow through, but as many as half do (see research by Arvin Garg on the WE Care tool);
3) As you correctly pointed out, we have a fair bit of data to guide our way. But what we really need is a culture change. Responding to data on ACEs and resilience means transforming basic ideas about human nature, and has consequences for interpersonal relationships of all kinds, as well as policies and systems through out our society. Perhaps a movie will help with that- hope you get it funded!
Ariane

Thanks Dr. Marie-Mitchell your comments are helpful and correct.

Larry Schmitt

9/23/178:55 AM

Ariane Marie-MitchellMember

Hi John,

Thank you for sharing your thoughtful post. I have a few thoughts to share based upon my experience of screening for ACEs in pediatric practice and related research:

1) The first opportunity in Pediatric practice comes not through referrals, but through the patient care encounter itself. There is an opportunity for the pediatrician to form a supportive relationship with the parent and child, which is wholistic and healing when understanding factors like ACEs becomes an expected part of good medical care. (In support of this, see research by Howard Dubowitz on the SEEK tool as evidence that brief pediatric provider training and screening can lead to reduced child maltreatment);

2) Referrals to community resources by pediatricians are meaningful. Without structured screening for social determinants, these referrals happen only minimally. With structured screening, referral rates go up and of course all parents don't follow through, but as many as half do (see research by Arvin Garg on the WE Care tool);

3) As you correctly pointed out, we have a fair bit of data to guide our way. But what we really need is a culture change. Responding to data on ACEs and resilience means transforming basic ideas about human nature, and has consequences for interpersonal relationships of all kinds, as well as policies and systems through out our society. Perhaps a movie will help with that- hope you get it funded!

Ariane

9/8/177:20 PM

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