Defang ACEs: End Toxic Stress by Developing Resilience Through Physician-Community Partnerships.

Abstract

* Abbreviation: ACE — : adverse childhood experience > In addition to our top finalist, the Editorial Board of Pediatrics and the Editorial Board of the SOPT Monthly Feature are proud to present the article that took second place in the First Annual Advocacy Essay Competition, written by Dr Amanda Jichlinski. Her article explores the intricacies of toxic stress through a comprehensive overview of the topic. Dr Livaditis and Dr Jichlinski’s articles mark the beginning of a short series on toxic stress, with several additional articles to be published in the next volume of Pediatrics . > > Catherine Spaulding, MD, Editor, Pediatrics , SOPT Monthly Feature > Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. > > Mahatma Gandhi When I was 12, my parents became part of the Maryland foster care system. Over many years, we took care of a total of 6 boys who had been placed in foster care. Some had suffered from physical and sexual abuse, others from neglect. Often, their parents struggled with mental health and substance use disorders. The traumas my siblings had experienced had clear impacts on their immediate mental and physical health. What we did not know was that these adverse experiences could also have negative repercussions on their health as adults. Pediatricians often care for children who endure abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, and the hardships of extreme poverty. These experiences are not only punishing for the child but are also linked to the leading causes of death in adults. The seminal Adverse Childhood Experiences Study published in 1998 screened for 7 adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), defined as childhood psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; living with a … Address correspondence to Amanda Jichlinski, MD, Pediatrics Medical Education, Children’s National Health System, 111 Michigan Ave NW, 3.5 West Wing, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20009. E-mail: ajichlin{at}cnmc.org