ACEs

Let's talk about ACEs. No, not "Ace a Base" or "Ace in the Hole" or "An Ace Up Your Sleeve". Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact a person’s future violence victimization and perpetration, lifelong health (physical, emotional, and spiritual), and opportunity.

The Stats:

• 1 out of 9 girls will be sexually abused by an adult before the age of 18, and 80% of those perpetrators will be a parent. #RAINN

• An average of 28% of children are physically abused. #CDC

• 300,000 American children will be sex trafficked this year in the United States

• In 2017, a total of 194,377 babies were born to women aged 15–19 years #CDC

• About 10,590 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2018 #AmericanCancerSociety

• Nearly 1300 children die and 5790 are treated for gunshot wounds each year.

• 15 school shootings in the US between January 1 - May 7, 2019.

Our kids live in a world where they are accessible and susceptible to trauma. Every day there are traumatic experiences happening outside of their control--our control. And the harsh reality is that hurt people hurt people.

School shootings are becoming a weekly occurrence, but it has to be more than a security issue. We have to unpack the adverse childhood experiences that kids are dealing with to understand what is driving them to hurt their peers. We have to evaluate how we as adults are modeling behavior to the next generation that makes them believe that this is a justifiable response to their emotions. We have to work together to recognize at risk youth, and help provide the necessary support systems they need to heal.

How are you going to step into the darkness today to positively impact the life of a disadvantaged, disconnected child who just desperately wants to be heard?

#Value #Dignity #Worth