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First responders play a crucial role in the care of individuals affected by natural and man-made disasters. Research has shown that trauma-related disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (22%) and depression (26%) (Fullerton, 2006), are well-documented in human first responders and behavioral health issues, such as suicidal thoughts and poor interpersonal relationships, can affect up to 51% of veterinary emergency responders following a disaster (Vroegindewey, 2021). In the...

In 2020, suicide was ranked among the top five most significant health problems in Alachua County, Florida (CDC, 2023). A significant association exists between exposure to adverse childhood experiences and one’s risk of suicide; individuals with an ACE score of four or more are 30 times more likely to attempt suicide than individuals with an ACE score of zero (CDC, 2022b). My proposed program utilizes a trauma-informed approach to increase awareness of mental health resources and build...

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition affecting children and adolescents that has increased by more than eightfold over 40 years (Ling et al., 2022). It is a significant health problem globally, with a prevalence of 19.7% in the U.S, affecting around 14.7 million children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 yeas. old (CDC, 2022). Several studies have documented how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) increase the risk of childhood obesity and associated behavioral and psychiatric...

My grant proposal focuses on the prevention of sexual assault at the University of Florida--specifically within the undergraduate female population. The program's activities place an emphasis on health education and are modeled according to the social ecological model developed by the CDC to effectively target the individual, relationship, community, and societal levels at UF. As such, the program intends to employ a trauma-informed approach in adapting each principle of the Six Key...

The prevalence and impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on the mental health of college students is a growing concern. According to Butler and Kaplow (2019), college students with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at a higher risk for developing mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The proposed grant aims to provide support and resources for college students affected by ACEs using a trauma-informed approach, which recognizes...

My grant proposal focuses on educating obstetricians and gynecologists about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma-informed care. Obstetricians and gynecologists (OB/GYN) lack clarity on identifying and addressing patients’ trauma symptoms and experiences (Nagle-Yang et al., 2022). Physicians using trauma-informed care during patient examinations can help promote mental health in patients and prevent re-traumatization in some (Hall et al., 2021). This program will host biweekly...

Instances of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as experiencing violence, and abuse are connected to mental health illness in adulthood (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). The Hispanic community is a heterogenous and growing population in the United States (U.S.). This group is estimated to be 30% of the U.S. population by 2060 (Colby & Ortman, 2015). Hispanics face social, legal, and economic adversities (Vega et al., 2009) which affect their overall health and...

My grant proposal focuses on a trauma-informed and primary prevention program for ACEs by addressing poverty, a prominent risk factor for ACEs and trauma, through providing a guaranteed livable wage/universal livable income to impoverished families residing in Gainesville, FL. The program partners with the Central Florida Community Action Agency (CFCAA), a non-profit community-based organization working to reduce poverty and increase self-sufficiency among low-income families in multiple...

In Weld County, Colorado, 5.5 out of every 1,000 children experienced out-of-home placement in 2018 due to involvement with the child welfare system for concerns of abuse or neglect (CO Children’s Campaign, 2020). When a child is placed into a home other than that of their nuclear family, it inflicts trauma on the whole family unit (Casey Family Programs, 2018). One significant predictor of the perpetration of child abuse is the parent having experienced abuse as a child (Anderson et al.,...

The overall age-adjusted death rate in rural areas has been greater than that of urban areas over the last two decades (Garcia, 2017; Moy 2017). Alachua County reported the county experienced an age adjusted death rate of 764.8 deaths per 100,000 in 2018, about 80 more deaths than the Florida average of 679.4 deaths per 100,000 for the same year (Florida Department of Health, 2020). A confluence of predisposing and reinforcing psychological and socioeconomic risk factors at the individual,...

Rural Vermont youth have shown an increase in mental health disorders and anxiety, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Normalizing the discussions surrounding mental health, resilience training, and mindfulness behaviors can start within the K-12 school systems by supporting educators and staff in these trauma-sensitive, responsive, and informed techniques. Implementation of a multi-tiered cross-functional approach to incorporating these topics into K-12 classrooms will be achieved...

Notably, living in a community with high rates of gun violence is associated with increased levels of trauma amongst youth (Rajan et al., 2019). Trauma is considered harmful social, physical, and/or spiritual impacts of an event on one's life (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMSHA], 2014). Given the community level trauma faced in Gainesville, it is important to increase community resilience especially amongst youth. Significant trauma in youth has been tied to...