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A Community's Response to Adverse Childhood Experiences: Building a Resilient, Trauma-Informed Community
Samantha L Matlin1, Robey B Champine2, Michael J Strambler3
1The Scattergood Foundation and Yale School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
American Journal of Community Psychology
|September 6, 2019
Summary
This study details a community-led initiative to build trauma-informed environments, addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Findings indicate the community is poised for enhanced support systems for trauma-informed practices.
Area of Science:
- Community Health
- Public Health
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can be mitigated by trauma-informed social environments.
- Empirical evidence for specific trauma-informed approaches is limited.
- A population health perspective guides community-based interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a participatory community change process aimed at building a resilient, trauma-informed community in Pottstown, PA.
- To examine the initial implementation phase of this process across multiple community sectors.
- To utilize data for hypothesis generation and guide implementation decisions.
Main Methods:
- Participatory community change process focused on ACEs.
- Implementation phased across education, health services, and 14 community sectors over two years.
- Mixed-methods data collection (individual, organizational, service system network processes).
- Data used for hypothesis generation and guiding implementation.
Main Results:
- The community is well-positioned to develop stronger inter-agency and system supports.
- Trauma-informed practices are being integrated into service systems and the broader community.
- The process facilitated understanding and decision-making during implementation.
Conclusions:
- Community-led initiatives can foster resilience and trauma-informed environments.
- Data-driven approaches are valuable for guiding community change processes.
- Strengthening inter-agency collaboration is key to supporting trauma-informed practices.