What are ACEs?

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“Adverse Childhood experiences are the single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today”-Dr. Robert Block (Former President of American Academy of Pediatrics)

Adverse Childhood Experiences or “ACEs” is when an individual experiences violence, abuse, or neglect. This violence can be caused by family members or the community. A child growing up in this environment can cause long-term health risks. (CDC, 2021)

Children who grow up in homes that have instability, such as, parents being separated or a parent/s in jail or prison, household members that substance abuse, or have mental health issues. Can cause an ACE score to increase. The higher an ACE score means the higher the risk of later health problems. “ACE scores don't tally the positive experiences in early life that can help build resilience and protect a child from the effects of trauma (NPR,2015).”

Health issues that are caused by ACEs are severe obesity, depression, substance abuse, heart disease, cancer, and more. (NPR, 2015). “ACEs can also cause a negative impact on education, job opportunity, and earning potential, However, ACEs are preventable. (CDC,2021)”

Notice visible signs of stress. Is the child distracted or withdrawn? Is the child having nightmares? Is the child acting out? Trama is sometimes misdiagnosed as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Trauma is not just family issues “ trauma [can stem] from poverty, for example, or from the chronic stress of racial or gender discrimination. (NPR,2015)

Having a kind conversation with a child can be beneficial. “ [It’s] been shown to help children with later learning and literacy. Even more important, they boost kids' resilience, by helping them build secure attachments with caring adults. Research suggests that just one caring, safe relationship early in life gives any child a much better shot at growing up healthy (NPR,2015)”.

There are many ways to help prevent trauma, The CDC has information on ways to reduce ACEs. (https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html) Even one individual can change the life of many. Having support in a community can be a great way to build a secure and safe environment for children and ultimately reduce the number of ACEs.

Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 2). Adverse childhood experiences (aces). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, April 6). Preventing adverse childhood experiences |violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, January 18). Violence prevention at CDC |Violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/index.html

Starecheski, L. (2015, March 2). Take the ace quiz - and learn what it does and doesn't mean. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean

TEDtalksDirector. (2015, February 17). How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | Nadine Burke Harris. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk

What are aces? and how do they relate to toxic stress? Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2020, October 30). https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/aces-and-toxic-stress-frequently-asked-questions/

The Importance of Volunteering

“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else's help” - Heather French Henry.

Volunteering is when an individual or a group offers and helps others, in a selfless way. Volunteering is a great way to help and be a part of the community. There are many benefits to volunteering that can be both personal and professional. One of the obvious and important aspects of volunteering is making a difference. When you volunteer, you are making an impact on your life and the person/people that you are helping.

An article called, Why Volunteering is Important in Personal and Professional Capacity (2021), written by Indeed Editorial Team. Explained the impacts volunteering can have in both professional and personal life. The personal benefits of volunteering are that; volunteering is a great way for an individual to meet new people (be more involved with the community/neighborhood), volunteering can help build on social interactions and interpersonal skills, and is beneficial for a person both mentally and physically (can lessen stress, anger, and anxiety in individuals who volunteer). When a person volunteers it brings joy (a sense of purpose) and it introduces the individual to new people and experiences. The individual can grow confidence (by building interpersonal skills) and find connections with people. The professional benefit of volunteering is discovering new career paths (individuals can discover career paths they want to pursue), Volunteering would help an individual be up-to-date with technology/skills that can ultimately help when an individual is trying to find a career or profession, The individual can be challenged when volunteering in an industry that they are new in, but those challenges would help the individual stand out on their resume, in some cases, individuals who volunteered at the organization can be hired in that organization.

Anyone can volunteer even people who have limited mobility. Whether a person has a disability, lacks transportation, or other reasons. There’s always a way to volunteer. A person can also volunteer via computer or phone. they can volunteer at home by helping these organizations by managing their website, social media, emails, or calls (Benefits of Community Service,wcsu.edu).

On December 17, 1999, The National and Community Service Act of 1990 amended the term “service-learning” which “is a teaching and learning strategy that connects academic curriculum to community problem-solving” studies have shown when schools participated in service-learning, students were more engaged in community service. Service-learning is beneficial for not only students but also for the community and for organizations. Some areas service-learning benefits students and organizations are by teaching and helping improve a person’s character value and responsible behavior, promoting connections to the community, promoting social-emotional skills, introducing new experiences that would help create new ideas, and increasing public support. (Service-Learning, Youth.gov)

There are many more areas where service-learning can benefit us but overall, it's clear that service-learning helps promote individuals to help their community. When we volunteer not only do the people/community we help benefit but we do too!

References

Benefits of Community Service. Community engagement. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2021, from https://www.wcsu.edu/community-engagement/benefits-of-volunteering/.

Reasons why volunteering is important - selecthealth.org. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://selecthealth.org/blog/2018/03/reasons-why-volunteering-is-important.

Robinson, L. (2021, April 19). Volunteering and its surprising benefits. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-living/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits.htm.

Service-learning. Service-Learning | Youth.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://youth.gov/youth-topics/civic-engagement-and-volunteering/service-learning.

What are the benefits of volunteering? top reasons to volunteer. Indeed Career Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-are-benefits-of-volunteering.

Why volunteering is important in a personal and professional capacity. Indeed Career Guide. (n.d.). Retrieved October 22, 2021, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/why-volunteering-is-important.

How does the Covid-19 Vaccine work?

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“What is in the vaccine?” and “How does the vaccine work to fight the covid 19 virus (also known as SARS-CoV-2 )?” are two of the most common questions. According to a CDC article, Covid-19 (2021), To understand how the Covid 19 vaccine works we have to first understand how our body fights illnesses. “Our immune system uses several tools to fight infection...Different types of white blood cells fight infection in different ways: Macrophages are white blood cells that swallow and digest germs and dead or dying cells. The macrophages leave behind parts of the invading germs, called “antigens”. The body identifies antigens as dangerous and stimulates antibodies to attack them (Covid-19 vaccine, CDC, 2021)”. B-Lymphocytes are also white blood cells that produce antibodies to attack the remaining pieces of virus left by macrophages. T-Lymphocytes are white blood cells that attack affected cells in the body. When a person is exposed to the Covid 19 virus it takes several days or even weeks for the body to fight the infection. After the first interaction with the virus, the body’s immune system would remember and learn how to fight the virus. “The T-lymphocytes called “memory cells,” that go into action quickly if the body encounters the same virus again. When the familiar antigens are detected, B-lymphocytes produce antibodies to attack”. Once getting a vaccine, after a “few weeks the body produces T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes. Therefore, it is possible for someone to become infected [by the covid 19 virus] before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection”(Covid-19 vaccine, CDC, 2021).”

Another common question is, “why do people get sick when they get the covid vaccine?” after getting a vaccine it is normal to have symptoms or reactions such as fever or chills because these signs indicate your body is building immunity and according to Vox, The vaccine (more specifically the new messenger RNA vaccine) has a 95% efficacy rate. The efficacy rate means this vaccine is one of the most effective vaccines but, because the efficacy rate is so high this would also mean the vaccine is more likely to activate your immune system, “which means your body increase blood flow to where that vaccine is, which is why pain at the injection site is so common...your body might even think, better turn up the heat, and then you get a fever, or the chills. So experts emphasize that we should look at most side effects as a good thing: it means the vaccine is working (Vox, Vaccine side effects are actually good thing, 2021)”

There are many myths and rumors surrounding the Covid-19 vaccines (Myths and Facts, CDC, 2021). The CDC made an article about myths on the covid-19 vaccination, they included information on how to find credible sources, as well as, answering commonly asked questions about the vaccine. Due to the spread of misinformation and rumors, it is extremely important to find credible sources and information that experts have studied on. This CDC article will help if you or anyone has questions or concerns about the vaccine.

The CDC created the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). The Social Vulnerability Index has “[incorperated] fifteen social factors which are grouped into four themes (Bailey, Countertools, 2020)” to identify communities that could experience natural disasters such as an outbreak. The four themes are Socioeconomic status, Household Composition, Race/Ethnicity/Language, and Housing/Transportation. These four themes come together and are ranked for each US census tract. “Communities with higher social vulnerabilities, including poverty and crowded housing units, have more adverse outcomes during and following public health event (CDC, 2020)” In the case of Covid communities with higher social vulnerability were more affected

References

Bailey, J., & Justin Bailey is Director of Product & Technology at Counter Tools. Justin studied sociology at Brown University. (2020, December 2). Considering social vulnerability and health equity in COVID-19 vaccine allocation. Counter Tools. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://countertools.org/blog/considering-social-vulnerability-and-health-equity-in-covid-19-vaccine-allocation/.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, October 22). Association between social vulnerability and a COUNTY'S risk for becoming A COVID-19 hotspot - United STATES, june 1–JULY 25, 2020. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 29, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6942a3.htm.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Myths and facts about COVID-19 Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Understanding how covid-19 vaccines work. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html.

Priya B. Shete. Jason Vargo. Alice Hm Chen. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo. (2021, February 3). Equity metrics: Toward a more effective and inclusive pandemic response: Health affairs blog. Health Affairs. Retrieved September 24, 2021, from https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20210202.251805/full/.

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Covid-19 vaccines. World Health Organization. Retrieved September 22, 2021, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines.