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<p>The concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, is bantered among behavioral and physical health providers. I publicly have spoken on it. Likewise, Bill Jones, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Wyoming Valley, has noted it publicly, and it is discussed at various behavioral health provider meetings.</p><p>I&#8217;m not sure, however, that the general public is familiar with it. We all should be.</p><p>The original study on ACEs surveyed 17,500 adults regarding incidents in their childhoods of emotional/physical abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse by a parent, incarceration of a parent, domestic violence, divorce of parents, and mental illness by a parent. These are the ACEs.</p><p>The findings are staggering: The higher the incident rate, the greater the impact on health across the lifespan. For example: Four or more ACEs correlated to three times the risk of cancer or heart disease, 2.5 times the risk for COPD and hepatitis, 4.5 times the risk for depression, and 12 times the risk for an attempt to end one&#8217;s life.</p><p>In the original study, 12 percent of those surveyed showed an incidence of four or more ACEs. The population surveyed was 70 percent Caucasian and 70 percent college educated. ACEs affect everyone, regardless of socio-economic status.</p><p>Much needs to be done about what Dr. Robert Block, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, calls &#8220;the single greatest unaddressed health issue facing our public&#8221; &#8211; adverse childhood experiences, or childhood trauma.&#8221;</p><p>At the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania, we have taken steps to address this significant detriment to our children, our families and our community&#8217;s well-being.</p><p>One year ago, we established a Child Advocacy Center in Montrose that services physically and sexually abused children from Wyoming and Susquehanna counties. The intent of the program is to coordinate the services of law enforcement, child protective services, victim services and medical services into one location, thereby reducing trauma to the child victim.</p><p>We provide a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy program (TF-CBT) for children in Luzerne County, funded in large part by the United Way of Wyoming Valley. Over the past year, 90 percent of the children in our program have shown a significant decrease in trauma-related symptoms from entry point of service.</p><p>To put a more human touch on the program, I have included a letter written as part of a high school class project by one of the program&#8217;s participants:</p><p>&#8220;The words &#8216;thank you&#8217; could never begin to explain how grateful I am for all you have done for me, just in the past few months. From boy troubles to the hard things I have trouble talking about, you have been here for me. You taught me many skills I have struggled with for many years, such as expressing my emotions. I know I still have a long journey ahead of me, but having someone who understands me in my life makes it less scary.</p><p>&#8220;I appreciate you finding new methods to help me cope with everything I&#8217;ve struggled with. Each session we have teaches me something new about myself and life in general. The stone with &#8216;happiness&#8217; on it has been in my bookbag, in case of those overwhelming days. It reminds me that if things get bad, I have you to talk through it with me. You&#8217;re truly a blessing, and one of the best people I have ever met. I will be eternally grateful for you. You have touched my life.&#8221;</p><p>The TF-CBT program of Luzerne County and the Child Advocacy Center in Montrose are only two of the many programs available through Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania.</p><p>For information on these and our other programs, you can call our &#8220;211&#8221; service. It is available around the clock. Simply dial 2-1-1.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Mike Zimmerman</p><p>Guest columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Mike Zimmerman is chief executive officer of the Family Service Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania. He can be reached at 570-823-5144. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.fsawv.org/" target="_blank">fsanepa.org</a>.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Mike Zimmerman: Family Service Association tries to lessen lifelong impacts of childhood traumas, or ACEs