Adverse Childhood Experiences A Medical Perspective

Imelda Bennett

Brain picture

Executive

functions

Feeling

and

emotions

Survival

functions

Breathing

and

heartbeat

• Perinatal Mental Health Pathway

• Domestic Abuse Strategy

• Targeted Midwifery Services

BUT

• Are we targeting the correct

mums-to-be?

• What are we doing for fathers-to-

be?

• Could we deliver services in a

different way?

• Early Help

BUT

• Could ACEs identify parents

who may benefit from further

information:

- child development?

- potential risks to child?

- how to promote child’s

communication?

- how to respond to their child’s

emotional needs?

• Do our nursery staff know how ACEs

can affect a child’s ability to socialise,

communicate, interact and learn?

• Graduated Pathway

• Early Help BUT

• High permanent exclusions

• Record numbers of children

being educated at home

• Schools feeling the funding

squeeze; and that they are left

holding the problem as other

public sector funding reduces

• Focus too often about what to do about children, rather than why?

- WHY is he/she behaving like this?

• Would ACEs help teachers identify children who may need additional

support before issues arise?

Interventions already in process

Restorative Practice (RP) pilots at Tewkesbury Secondary and Moat Primary Schools

RP now being extended to Beaufort Academy and feeder primary schools, and Dean Academy

Gloucestershire Healthy Living and Learning Schools Mental Health Champions Award

Stroud Schools (Mental Health) Pilot – positive evaluation. Wider rollout initially in Gloucester

Gloucestershire’s Future in Mind Transformation Plan 2015/2020 - building support around the child/young person

ACEs are being used locally to divert young people away from

offending behaviours

Could we use ACEs to be more pro-active in schools ?

USA – adult medical practice – discussing the outcome of a shortened

ACEs scoring tool with the patient lead to

35% in doctor consultations

11% in ED visits

ACEs in parent

ACEs in child

Instead of what’s wrong with you?

Let’s talk about what happened to

you?