Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Dec;5(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s40352-017-0050-5. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

Action steps using ACEs and trauma-informed care: a resilience model

Laurie Leitch  1
Affiliations

Action steps using ACEs and trauma-informed care: a resilience model

Laurie Leitch. Health Justice. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

This paper 1) discusses two important contributions that are shaping work with vulnerable and under-resourced populations: Kaiser Permanente's (1998) Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACE) which includes the impact of adverse experiences in childhood on adult health and health behaviors and the more recent advent of what has come to be known as Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), programs which incorporate knowledge of the impact of early trauma into policies and programs. 2) Despite many positive benefits that have come from both contributions there are unintended consequences, described in the paper, that have an impact on research and program evaluation as well as social policies and programs. 3) Three key neuroscience concepts are recommended for inclusion in Trauma-Informed Care programs and practices in ways that can enrich program design and guide the development of practical, resilience-oriented interventions that can be evaluated for outcomes. 4) Finally, a resilience-oriented approach to TIC is recommended that moves from trauma information to neuroscience-based action with practical skills to build greater capacity for self-regulation and self-care in both service providers and clients. Examples from criminal justice are used.

Keywords: ACE study; Neuroplasticity; Neuroscience; Resilience; Self-regulation skills; Trauma Informed Care (TIC).

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ANS Rhythm in the Resilient Zoneᅟ
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
ANS Rhythm Outside the Resilient Zoneᅟ
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. ACEs Too High (2017). https://acestoohigh.com/. Accessed 6 Jan 2017.
    1. American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2017). https://www.journals.elsevier.com/american-journal-of-preventive-medicine. Accessed 8 Jan 2017.
    1. Andrews DA. Enhancing adherence to risk-need-responsivity: making quality a matter of policy. Criminology and Public Policy. 2006;5:595–602. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-9133.2006.00394.x. - DOI
    1. Baglivio MT, Epps N, Swartz K, Huq MS, Sheer A, Hardt NS. The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in the lives of juvenile offenders. Journal of Juvenile Justice. 2014;3(2):1.
    1. Bonta J, Andrews DA. Risk–Need–Responsivity model for offender assessment and rehabilitation (No. 2007–04) Ottawa: Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada; 2007.