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Jan 27, 2021 | Announcements

ACEs Aware Awards $30.8 Million in Network of Care Grant Funds

The Department of Health Care Services, in partnership with the Office of the California Surgeon General, awarded $30.8 million in ACEs Aware grant funds to 35 organizations across California. The grants will help build and strengthen robust networks of care to effectively respond to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress with community-based health and social supports that meet the needs of children, adults, and families.

Jan 12, 2021 |

California Budget Update

The newly released Governor’s budget includes a proposal to extend Proposition 56 funding for the ACEs Aware initiative through June 30, 2022. The ACEs Aware initiative is a vital part of the Medi-Cal program’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, helping providers identify, prevent, and treat the secondary health effects associated with increased levels of stress caused by the pandemic.

Dec 15, 2020 | Grantee Highlights

Cardea Services, The Raise Foundation, Lake Family Resource Center, and First 5 Contra Costa

Since receiving their grant awards in June 2020, ACEs Aware grantees have been hard at work executing a range of activities to inform and educate Medi-Cal providers about the importance of screening for ACEs and responding with trauma-informed care. Cardea Services, The Raise Foundation, Lake Family Resource Center, and First 5 Contra Costa are included in the Grantee Spotlight for December, and each organization is leading an exciting body of work though provider training, provider engagement, and communications.

Dec 15, 2020 |

Spotlight Series: Dr. Tanisha E. Silas-Young

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.

Dec 14, 2020 |

For Public Comment: Draft Trauma-Informed Network of Care Roadmap

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.

Dec 1, 2020 |

Grant Opportunity to Support Trauma-Informed Networks of Care

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.

Nov 8, 2020 |

ACEs Training and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Reflections from Dr. Eric Ball

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.

Oct 27, 2020 |

Spotlight Series: Karen Johnson, MSW, LCSW

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.

END USER SUBLICENSE AGREEMENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: This End User Sublicense Agreement (the “Agreement” or “Sublicense”) is a legally binding agreement between you (an individual or an entity, hereinafter “You” or “Sublicensee”) and the Department of Health Care Services (“DHCS”) for the use of the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-events Screener (“PEARLS”) for children and adults up to the age of 21.

BY WAY OF DOWNLOADING, COPYING, ACCESSING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE PEARLS TOOL, YOU ARE AGREEING TO BE LEGALLY BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, THEN YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO THE PEARLS TOOL AND MAY NOT DOWNLOAD, COPY, ACCESS, OR OTHERWISE THE PEARLS TOOL.

THE PEARLS TOOL IS PROTECTED BY COPYRIGHT LAWS AND IS OTHERWISE PROTECTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. THE PEARLS TOOL IS LICENSED AND IS NOT SOLD.

    1. The PEARLS Tool. The PEARLS tool is a unique tool that assess for both Adverse Childhood Experiences (“ACEs”) such as abuse, neglect, and household challenges, and related events, such as discrimination, food insecurity, and community violence, thought to be risk factors for toxic stress. The PEARLS tool was made in the course of research under the auspices of the Children’s Hospital Research Center at Oakland (“BCHO”) and the University of California, San Francisco. BCHO has licensed the PEARLS tool to DHCS and provided DHCS with the right to sublicense the PEARLS tool.
    2. Sublicensee Attestation. By agreeing to this Agreement, You attest that You are a provider of health care services to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan, a Medi-Cal beneficiary, a parent or guardian of a Medi-Cal beneficiary, or an Electronic Health Records (“EHR”) vendor.
    3. The Sublicense. Subject to the terms of this agreement, DHCS hereby grants to Sublicensee a non-exclusive, royalty-free, non-assignable, non-transferable sublicense (the “Sublicense”) to the PEARLS tool. Under the Sublicense, Sublicensee may use the PEARLS tool as directed, and may save, download, print, copy, reproduce, or distribute the PEARLS tool to facilitate such use.
    4. Use in a Remote Patient Portal. The PEARLS tool was developed as a screener of risk for toxic stress and has been tested for safe, reliable screening when used during in-person (i.e., synchronous) visits. The questions and responses of the PEARLS tool may be administered using the EHR as structured data fields to facilitate record and follow-up. Because the PEARLS tool was never studied under asynchronous screening formats, DHCS cannot provide recommendations regarding its use in a remote patient portal. This includes information around safety and adequate windows of response. Sublicensee acknowledges that DHCS is not responsible for providing any recommendations regarding the use of the PEARLS tool in a remote patient portal, and that DHCS is not responsible for overseeing implementation and use of the PEARLS tool in a remote patient setting. This includes information around safety and adequate windows of response.
    5. Disclaimer of Warranty. This Sublicense and the associated PEARLS tool are provided WITHOUT WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. DHCS MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY THAT THE PEARLS TOOL WILL NOT INFRINGE ANY COPYRIGHT, PATENT, OR OTHER PROPRIETARY RIGHT.
    6. Limitations of Liability.
      1. IN NO EVENT WILL DHCS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM EXERCISE OF THIS SUBLICENSE OR THE USE OF THE PEARLS TOOL.
      2. DHCS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY LOST PROFITS, COSTS OF PROCURING SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES, LOST BUSINESS, ENHANCED DAMAGES FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INFRINGEMENT OR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR OTHER SPECIAL DAMAGES SUFFERED BY SUBLICENSEE, JOINT VENTURES, AFFILIATES, OR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT. DHCS WILL NOT LIABLE FOR ANY CAUSES OF ACTION OF ANY KIND (INCLUDING TORT, CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE, STRICT LIABILITY, AND BREACH OF WARRANTY) EVEN IF DHCS HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
    7. Indemnity and Duty to Defend. Sublicensee shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless DHCS from and against all claims, actions, damages, losses, liabilities (or actions or proceedings with respect to any thereof), whether or not rightful, arising from any and all actions or claims by any third party or expenses related thereto (including, but not limited to, all legal expenses, court costs, and attorney’s fees incurred in investigating, preparing, serving as a witness in, or defending against, any such claim, action, or proceeding, commenced or threatened) to which DHCS and/or any employee, contractor, or agent acting on DHCS’s behalf may be subject, whether or not Sublicensee is a party to any pending or threatened litigation, which arise out of or are related to (i) claims and losses accruing or resulting to any person, firm or corporation who may be injured or damaged by Sublicensee’s use, reproduction, manufacture, sale, offer to sell, distribution, import, export, modification, public and private  performance/display, license, and disposition of the PEARLS tool; (ii) the incorrectness or breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenant or agreements of Sublicensee pertaining the PEARLS tool; or (iii) any intellectual property infringement, or any other type of actual or alleged infringement claim, arising out of Sublicensee’s use, reproduction, manufacture, sale, offer to sell, distribution, import, export, modification, public and private performance/display, license, and disposition of the PEARLS tool. This indemnity obligation shall apply irrespective of whether the infringement claim is based on a patent, trademark or copyright registration that issued after the effective date of this Agreement. DHCS reserves the right to participate in and/or control, at Sublicensee’s expense, any such infringement action brought against DHCS.
    8. Governing Law. This Agreement is to be interpreted and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California.
    9. Miscellaneous
      1. The relationship between DHCS and Sublicensee established by this Agreement is that of independent contractors. No joint venture or partnership is established by this Agreement. Neither party is the agent, broker, partner, employee, or legal representative of the other for any purpose.
      2. The headings of any sections are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
      3. This Agreement embodies the entire understanding of DHCS and Sublicensee and supersedes all previous communications, representations or understandings, either oral or written, between them relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.
      4. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is unenforceable or held to be unenforceable, all other provisions of this Agreement have force and effect and will not be affected thereby.
      5. This Agreement may only be amended, modified, or supplemented by an agreement in writing signed by each party hereto.