Children’s Trust has started a Learning Thursdays series to raise awareness of the valuable work being accomplished in the prevention of child abuse and the promotion of the child well-being. An overview of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is provided every other month followed by lessons from Children’s Trust partners on the other months.
Every year the number of people learning about the effects of adverse childhood experiences grows through the diligent work of our ACE Interface – ACE master trainer network. While the work of these trainers is greatly appreciated, we have a long way to go before everyone who needs to hear the message of ACEs has received it. We also know people who have heard about ACEs are ready to learn more, as well as how they can use the knowledge of ACEs to inform programs and services offered to children and families. Enter Learning Thursdays – our new initiative that started Jan. 21 and continues every third Thursday for the duration of the year from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on those days.
The Learning Thursdays initiative was created in an effort to increase regular opportunities for ACE training and provide a space where Children’s Trust partners can share how ACEs have made an impact on their work. We have inevitably missed a few people here or there when there weren’t enough attendees signed up for a full training. This opportunity will also provide a neutral space for multiple small groups to come together to form a full training group. Here’s what participants in the Learning Thursdays events can expect.
ACEs 101
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur in a child’s life. Science shows the strong relationship between the adversity that children experience and the negative health and social outcomes that can follow them into adulthood. By gaining a better understanding of ACEs, what they are, and how they can manifest themselves years later, communities can put together plans to prevent future abuse and improve the lives of South Carolina’s children and families.
After the ACE training, participants will be able to:
- Know basic information and clearly articulate how it relates to the impact of ACEs on brain development, ACE research findings, and how core protective systems work to reduce ACEs;
- Understand the impact that ACEs have had on their own lives; and
- Establish a common language around ACEs and protective factors as the first step to working together toward a plan of action.
Lessons from the Field
This session will include voices from Children’s Trust partners and other child- and family-serving leaders across the state focused on sharing how ACEs have affected their work. These sessions will be a panel discussion, where speakers share an overview of their work followed by questions from the audience.
We hope these sessions are welcome additions to our training lineup, and by providing these virtually, we are hopeful of reaching a broader audience. Our content is more targeted toward those serving children and families, but anyone is welcome. We would also be interested to hear from anyone who would like to share their work to prevent ACEs. Contact Dana Powell at dpowell@scchildren.org to be considered as a speaker for one of the Lessons in the Field sessions.
Registration is directly through Zoom. See our events schedule. Mark your calendars for the monthly sessions:
- Jan. 21 – ACEs 101
- March 4 – Lessons from the Field
- March 18 – ACEs 101
- April 15 – Lessons from the Field
- May 20 – ACEs 101
- June 17 – Lessons from the Field
- July 15 – ACEs 101
- Aug. 19 – Lessons from the Field
- Sept. 16 – ACEs 101
- Oct. 21 – Lessons from the Field
- Nov. 18 – ACEs 101
- Dec. 16 – Lessons from the Field
