Hi
Does anyone know of any initiative to improve the Adverse Childhood Experiences survey? I ask because there are obvious omissions (like medical trauma, trauma arising from discrimination – racism, homophobia, ableism – the effects of war and displacement/migration, and many more). Just curious.
be well
-AH
not that I know of. if it gives any hope etc, I participated in a complex trauma survey (zoom interview) I found on reddit a few months ago. ACEs absolutely need to be updated, and I think the field is gradually shifting.
It doesn't get at everything you mention but California developed a version for children and teens for screening for in pediatricians' offices. This includes community violence and discrimination. This seems to be in wide use. ␐https://www.acesaware.org/pdf_wrapper/pearls-tool-teen-self-report-identified-english/
And apologies because it seems to not be possible to share the direct link. Navigate to the screening tools page --> English--> PEARLS (their modified screening for children and teens that includes 10 extra questions)
For some reason they didn't change the adult version to have these community based violence and discrimination questions.
For anyone interested California has all their ACE screening tools here: https://www.acesaware.org/learn-about-screening/screening-tools/screening-tools-additional-languages/
There's a big initiative that was run by our former (and first) state surgeon general Nadine Burke Harris to screening every child and provide resources to children and parents with ACE score greater than 4.
Thanks Armee. I approach this as a disability rights advocate, so my comments come from that angle.
The teen survey covers some additional issues, but not others. There's nothing about medical trauma, and asking about whether the person "worried about" not having enough food might make people who actually didn't have enough to eat feel excluded. Also, the "care" question is unnecessarily narrow. What about clothes/shoes, bedding, school supplies, and a clean living space? Also, it would be better to use "plain language"; words like "put down" rather than "humiliated" or "money" instead of "resources".
I know that perfection can be the enemy of the good, but holy guacamaole that questionnaire feels out of touch with its target audience.
Somewhere on that website there's probably a place to provide feedback. I'm sure they are open to improving.
I don't know of any initiatives by Kaiser Permanente or the CDC, but you can check this site https://www.pacesconnection.com/ as it is all about (P)ACEs. You can get involved with them and advocate for change thru the organization.