(Merced, California) Valley Children’s, along with a collaborative of Merced community-based organizations, has been selected as a $500,000 recipient by the California Department of Health Care Services to combat adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress screening. ACEs are stressful or traumatic events children experience before the age of 18, including abuse and neglect. The screenings will focus on patients at Valley Children’s Olivewood Pediatrics in Merced.
“Children who are exposed to ACEs and toxic stress, are at increased risk for lifelong health conditions including obesity, diabetes, asthma, cancer, high blood pressure and mental health problems,” explained Dr. Carmela Sosa, medical director of Valley Children’s Guild Center for Community Health. “Screening, education and early interventions that we know are effective, will improve the long-term physical and emotional health of our children.”
The grant was submitted with several key Merced County partners, including ACEsINC, ACE Overcomers, Merced Help Me Grow/First Five, Central California Alliance for Health, Merced 2-1-1, Merced County Office of Education, California Health Collaborative and others.
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The Mission of ACEsINC is to build and maintain a preventative network that will: screen for ACEs, treat for ACEs using evidence-based buffering resources (stress mitigating supports), and heal children, adults, and families from the consequences of toxic stress.
We envision a Merced County where ACEs are cut in half in one generation, interrupting the intergenerational transmission of ACEs and toxic stress, leading to
improved health for our children, adults, and families.
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