The Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate, now in its 20th year, has established itself as a leading force in child welfare and protection, advancing policy and system reforms that benefit children in the Commonwealth with the greatest needs. Under the leadership of Maria Mossaides, Child Advocate, the OCA works closely with state agencies to ensure that children receive the
There is a wealth of research examining the relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – potentially traumatic experience such as violence, child abuse, and neglect, and an expanded definition of adversity including racism and discrimination, bullying, community violence, and poverty – and long-term health and well-being. Children who experience adversity without the protection of nurturing relationships and support systems can
“I still wonder why I wasn’t treated for depression, why no one noticed I’d been sexually abused, why the doctors didn’t seem to believe that I came from a home with physical violence. Why the thing they cared the most about was whether I acted the part of a feminine young lady. The shame is that the effects of depression,
Strong relationships are a protective factor against adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Therefore, supporting early relational health (ERH) by creating safe, stable, and nurturing family relationships to encourage positive emotional connection between parents and children is one way to prevent toxic stress, buffer against ACEs, and promote capacity for resilience. Early childhood interventions designed to support ERH can yield benefits to
“The Pathways to Resilience initiative is an opportunity to think and engage others about what we can do clinically for marginalized youth, but also think structurally and comprehensively about what needs to be done differently so youth can thrive.” – Mikah Owen, MPH, MD In this final installment of our Engaging Experts series, Dr. Mikah Owen and Dr. Roy Wade,
According to the 2023 GLAAD Accelerating Acceptance report, support for the LGBTQ+ community is at an “all-time high,” with supermajorities of non-LGBTQ+ Americans supporting fairness and equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Considered along with federal action such as Executive Order 13988, which seeks to advance equality for LGBTQ+ individuals, this is noteworthy progress. That said, resistance to LGBTQ+ equality
From recent New York Times best-sellers like The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness to research from The American Psychological Association, there is widespread and warranted concern about the effects of social media on youth mental health. Social media and youth mental health are cited as current priorities of the U.S.
Kheya Ganguly is the Director of Trauma Prevention and Resilience Development for the state of Vermont. She leads an office of one, supporting agencies throughout the state respond to traumatic incidents and develop trauma-responsive policies and practices. Her position was created by the Vermont General Assembly in 2018, with the purpose of “directing and coordinating systemic approaches across state government
Christine Norbut Beyer, MSW, is the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. I first began my journey to understanding ACEs and trauma-informed care just over 10 years ago. My introduction started when I became a strategic consultant in Wisconsin for Casey Family Programs, working with then-First Lady Tonette Walker on her signature initiative to make Wisconsin
“Health care systems, and other institutions and organizations, we have to do something differently, we need to change our approach. We also have to understand the harm that we’ve caused by not doing the work.” In this installment of our Engaging Experts series, Dr. Mikah Owen and Dr. Roy Wade, Jr., offer a broad assessment of the health care landscape