Trauma informed care and services have been a focus area at School Health Clinics for the past two years. This is based on the wealth of scientific research demonstrating that cumulative adversity, especially when experienced early in life, is a root cause of some of the most harmful and persistent health challenges.
For a project as involved as this it helps to have a clinical champion with expertise and passion to drive the work. Suzanne Frank, MD, FAAP, joined SHC as a Supervising Physician in 2019. Dr. Frank is a board-certified pediatrician with extensive clinical and policy expertise in the area of child abuse and neglect and the ACEs framework. She founded the Santa Clara County SCAN (Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect) Team - a group of healthcare, law enforcement and government representatives who meet monthly to review trauma and child protection cases and develop process improvements and interagency collaboration. She also currently serves as a Santa Clara County ACEs Network Coordinator and the California ACEs Academy Regional Champions
In addition to supporting clinical aspects of the project, Dr. Frank has strengthened our relationship with community partners who provide services that help patients heal from the physical and mental health problems caused by exposure to toxic stress, including Next Door Solutions to Domestic Violence, Parents Helping Parents, the Santa Clara County Child Advocacy Center, Catholic Charities, and Sacred Heart Community Service.
Says Dr. Frank: "School Health Clinics has made tremendous strides in building a system designed to prevent and address the impact of ACEs and toxic stress. This will significantly improve the health and well-being of our patients and help save lives."
From the June,2021 SHC newsletter
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