Many of us experienced some type of highly stressful or traumatic event in our childhood. We may have had effective “buffers”: people like a trusted teacher, coach, therapist, or supportive family and friends. Or, depending on our age at the time, we may have decided we could handle our reactions on our own.
But, are you aware of the lifelong physical health issues scientists have found to be associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs? Take our quick questionnaire to find out your ACEs score, then come back here to learn what it might mean for your physical health.
ACEs are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today.
- Dr. Robert Block, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics
ACEs threaten public health
Research by Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control showed that ACEs scores are correlated with health outcomes. Children and adults with high scores (4 or more) are:
“Children are especially sensitive to repeated stress activation because their brains and bodies are just developing,” said Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, pediatrician, in a 2014 TEDMED talk. “High doses of adversity not only affect brain structure and function, it also affects the developing immune system, developing hormonal systems, and even the way our DNA is read and transcribed.”
The need for routine screening and early intervention through play therapy, mental health services, child-parent psychotherapy, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive parenting programs is evident. “ACEs are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today,” said Dr. Robert Block, former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
How can we intervene?
Abuse and neglect don’t discriminate. Neither do behavior issues or family dysfunction. But by helping children heal, each of us can stop the ongoing, repeated cycle of abuse and adversity.
Public awareness and education expands the ability and capacity for the entire community, including schools, organizations and businesses, to respond to the needs of children exposed to early adversity. In Palm Beach County, anyone who knows and cares about a child who has experienced ACEs can turn to the Center for Child Counseling.
Our mission is to foster healthy, resilient children and families through support, counseling, and awareness. In the next year, we will train 3,000 pediatricians, nurses, teachers, caregivers, police officers, and mental-health professionals to recognize the signs of ACEs.
Children deserve to live their lives free of abuse. We owe them a sense of security whether they’re at home or out in the world.
The Center for Child Counseling provides healing care to more than 2,400 children each year. Interested in learning how you can help fight childhood adversity in your community? Sign up to receive newsletter updates.
The event’s keynote speakers from the 
We are pleased to announce that Kerry Jamieson has joined our team as Director of Community and Public Relations! Kerry was born in Durban, South Africa and received an undergraduate degree in English and History from the University of Miami and a postgraduate qualification in screenwriting from UCLA.
We are pleased to anounce that Dr. Jennifer Konsker, pediatrician, has joined the Board of Directors at Center for Child Counseling.
Director and Audit Committee Chairwoman, Madeline Morris, MBA/CPA is a seasoned professional with a 40-year proven track record of assisting clients. Her areas of focus have been in the enhancement of Corporate Governance, designing and implementing effective risk focused reporting, regulatory, compliance and internal control policies and processes. She is a recently retired Managing Director from 
Director, Jennifer Hume Rodriguez has been in the banking industry for over twenty-three years. She grew up in Malvern, PA a suburb of Philadelphia and attended Penn State University where she received a BA in Liberal Arts. Upon graduating college in 1989, Jennifer chose to move to Florida, first to Jacksonville and then to the West Palm Beach area in 1990. She has been a resident of Palm Beach County for twenty-seven years.
The award honored an executive “whose distinguished achievements have resulted in significant progress toward improving a community issue.” They must also be recognized by their peers as a leader in the sector, demonstrating excellence in leadership and management, and inspiring others to achieve meaningful, measurable, and sustainable results. During her acceptance speech, Ms. Layman touched on the increased demand for the services that Center for Child Counseling provides to at-risk children in the Palm Beach County area: “Unfortunately, there’s so much need in our community, so we continue to provide innovative and evidence-based programming to meet the needs . . . we love what we do.” Center for Child Counseling is filling critical gaps in the services for at-risk children in our community. Under her leadership over the past year, Center for Child Counseling has provided direct services for over 3,000 children – and trained over 3,500 professionals in the educational, medical, and childcare sectors.
2018 Cornerstone XXXVI class!
Difference Award." The award is in recognition of Eddie's "dedication to making a difference for Florida's children and families through tireless service to the disadvantaged and under served members of our community."