Dear Kings County,
We are resilient! We have faced storm after storm, but we did not give up and we have not lost hope. In fact, we continue to confront challenges. Through it all, we stand united in building healthy futures and we plan to make this happen with your support. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress represent a public health crisis that has been, until recently, largely unrecognized by our state’s health care system and society.
A consensus of scientific research demonstrates that cumulative adversity, especially when experienced during critical and sensitive periods of development, is a root cause to some of the most harmful, persistent, and expensive health challenges facing our state and nation. Two in three of us will experience at least 1 ACE in our childhood, and 46% of our Kings County community have an ACE score of at least 1 or more.
There is hope. ACEs are not destiny. As a community, we can overcome these experiences and still thrive. Remember, WE ARE RESILIENT. Arm-in-arm and side-by-side, we can prevent and address the impact of ACEs and toxic stress. We understand the impact of trauma and we are working towards an integrated network of supports and services throughout Kings County that understand the needs of people who have experienced trauma and adversity.
By working together, we can reduce ACEs and toxic stress in Kings County by half in this generation. We can take action now to change and save lives. The impacts of ACEs and toxic stress are treatable. We can screen for ACEs, respond with evidence-based trauma-informed care, and significantly improve the health and well-being of individuals and families. These efforts can also reduce the risk of intergenerational transmission of the significant health and societal consequences of toxic stress.
Let's work together to make our county healthy by cutting ACEs by half in a generation.
So join us. Pledge to help build resilience in our community, because the culture shift begins with you!
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