Group to host summit to combat adverse childhood experiences

Arkansas ranks No. 1 in the percentage of children between ages 0 and 17 who have experienced one or more adverse childhood experience in the United States, according to the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care. In 2016, the percentage of Arkansas children who went through an adverse childhood experience fell to 55.9%, from 56.5% in 2012. Nationwide, the rate fell to 46.3% in 2016, from 47.9% in 2012.

At 6 p.m. Oct. 12 (Thursday), a public screening of the documentary “Resilience: The Biology of Stress & the Science of Hope” will be shown at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church in Little Rock. The documentary explains the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences study, which addresses how adverse childhood experiences are linked to destructive behavior and medical diseases. Click here for more information on the documentary.

The showing will be followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Christina Bethell, a professor in the Bloomberg School of Public Health University. The event is sponsored by Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church along with the support of Arkansas Adverse Childhood Experiences/Resilience Workgroup. The group works to prevent adverse childhood experiences and helps to build “safe, stable and nurturing environments for all children,” according to a news release. The workgroup was formed in May 2017 and has 130 members and 60 organizations and government agencies in healthcare, public health, education, law enforcement human services, mental health, churches and businesses.

On Oct. 13 (Friday), an Adverse Childhood Experiences/Resilience Summit will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. It will address the state of adverse childhood experiences in Arkansas and show communities how to build resilience, the release shows. Speakers include Alan Mease, medical director for child and adolescent health for the Arkansas Department of Health; and Chuck Dietzen, medical director for pediatric rehabilitation, Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University Health.