September 10, 2020
Resilient Santa Barbara County is proud to support the efforts of the statewide ACEs Aware initiative, led by the California Department of Health Care Services and the Office of the California Surgeon General. This initiative seeks to change health outcomes and save lives by helping Medi-Cal providers understand the importance of screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and responding to patients with trauma-informed care. ACEs Aware offers Medi-Cal providers training, screening tools, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for ACEs.
The ACEs Aware initiative has provided grant funding to 100 organizations throughout California to design and implement training and education activities for health care providers and other organizations that serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries. In Santa Barbara County, three separate organizations received grant funds. The Pediatric Resiliency Collaborative (PeRC) received a $200,000 Training grant, KIDS Network received a $150,000 Provider Engagement grant, and the Community Health Centers of the Central Coast (CHCCC) received $150,710 for Provider Engagement and Peer-to-Peer Learning.
PeRC, a pioneering effort to implement universal ACEs screening throughout Santa Barbara County, aims to train 75 percent of pediatricians and their clinic staff within the county, as well 25 percent of pediatric providers in neighboring counties. PeRC has been selected to develop and certify a Core Training program and will also develop supplemental trainings for providers. As part of PeRC’s ACEs Aware Training Grant, trainings will be offered free of charge to Medi-Cal and other providers, and will be offered as recordings online and promoted for use throughout the Central Coast and state.
KIDS Network serves as the hub for Santa Barbara County’s cross-sector ACEs initiative, Resilient Santa Barbara County (RSBC). Through the ACEs Aware Provider Engagement Grant, KIDS Network will build on RSBC successes to strengthen care networks in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties. Medi-Cal providers from all three counties will be invited to participate in virtual events with renowned speakers and local experts, designed to strengthen cross-sector relationships and increase awareness about ACEs, resilience, and trauma-informed care. Care networks from each county have been engaged to enhance presentations with information about local resources and intervention strategies.
Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc. (CHCCC) offers integrated medical and behavioral health services to diverse communities in northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Populations served by CHCCC include indigenous, immigrant, and limited English proficiency community members. CHCCC’s Behavioral Health department will train clinicians to address Adverse Childhood Experiences among this unique demographic. These grants will allow CHCCC to create a foundation for trauma-informed care with an emphasis on appropriate cultural and linguistic assessment and intervention, with a goal of ending cycles of violence and adversity for generations to come.
Medi-Cal providers may receive multiple communications about training, workshops, and other learning opportunities through the ACES Aware network. ACEs Connection is partnering with ACEs Aware to get the word out and to encourage provider participation. CenCal Health will communicate these and other opportunities to providers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties through their website and newsletters.
Information is also available on the Cottage Health site, including this link to a recent press release:
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