ACE screening offers maternal health care providers a tremendous opportunity to address toxic stress, interrupt the cycle of intergenerational trauma, and set patients on a path to healing. In this month’s ACEs Aware Spotlight, Dr. Tanisha E. Silas-Young of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology from Kaiser Permanente in Vacaville shares experiences and lessons learned from implementing ACE screening into her prenatal care practice.

DHCS in partnership with the CA-OSG released for public comment a draft ACEs Aware Trauma-Informed Network of Care Roadmap. The Roadmap will serve as a guide for health care providers, social service agencies, and community-based organizations by providing practical steps to help grow cross-sector networks of care that support children, adults, and families.

The Department of Health Care Services in partnership with the Office of the California Surgeon General released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a second round of ACEs Aware grants, with a Letter of Intent submission deadline of December 14, 2020. The new grants will target California communities that want to build or execute a robust network of care to effectively respond to ACEs and toxic stress to meet the needs of children, adults, and families.

COVID-19 has been stressful for all of us, but our response to the pandemic and its effects is largely dependent on our buffering relationships and resiliency. Orange Country pediatrician Dr. Eric Ball discusses how ACEs Aware training has benefited his practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Karen Johnson, MSW, LCSW, has spent more than two decades working in trauma-informed care, including currently as principal at Trauma-Informed Lens Consulting and formerly as Director of Trauma Informed Services for the National Council for Behavioral Health. In the latest blog for the ACEs Aware Spotlight Series, Karen discusses approaches for implementing trauma-informed care with patients and care teams.

The Provider Training September Data Update report clearly demonstrates substantial early success in building a network of providers who are crucial to advancing the ACEs Aware initiative across the state.

In the August webinar, ACEs Aware asked a panel of experts to share their tips and best practices for primary care providers to help pediatric patients and parents manage stress.

Dr. Hilary M. Bowers, MD, FAAP, Director of Behavioral and Mental Health Services with Children’s Primary Care Medical Group, gives practical tips for discussing behavioral and mental health care strategies with pediatric patients and caregivers.

ACEs Aware is hiring for three new positions to further the mission of supporting Medi-Cal providers across California with training, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for ACEs.

Julianne McCall, PhD, from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, discusses the science behind toxic stress in children and the importance of understanding the impact of early experiences on the developing brain.