ACES is another important acronym in the ongoing discussion about eliminating generational poverty that stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences. This can be anything from food insecurity, to homelessness, and even abuse; any traumatic experience that research shows can have a tremendous impact on brain development. ACES are shown to have long term adverse effects on the wellbeing of children who experience them, which can be a detriment to their lifelong ability to learn and thrive, therefore, perpetuating the cycle of multiple generations of a family suffering from poverty.
This may seem grim, but there is hope. Resilience describes an individual’s ability to bounce back when faced with adverse experiences, and when positive experiences occur, they act as protective factors that build resilience and support a child’s wellbeing. We have the power to create a community where children have opportunities for success, regardless of the difficulties they face at home. Muncie Action Plan and United Way of Delaware, Henry, and Randolph Counties are supporting an idea created by renowned childhood expert Derek Peterson called Web of Support. This is not a specific program, but rather a shift in culture. Web of Support promotes mentorship and engaging more supportive adults to positively influence a child’s life.
One hundred adult and teen ambassadors have already completed training and begun teaching and explaining the concept of Web of Support to various groups around our community. This is just a start, but with this philosophy in mind, we can all begin to work together to support children dealing with ACES. Some of the protective factors we can start to incorporate into our interactions may include:
· Close relationships with caring adults
· Parental resilience
· Having a sense of purpose (through faith, culture, identity, etc.)
· Individual accomplishments (problem solving skills, self-regulations, autonomy, etc.)
· Opportunities to connect socially
· Practical and available support services for parents and families
· Communities that value people and support health and personal growth.
If you want to help United Way in these important efforts, please consider donating to the 2020 United Way Ball State Employee Campaign by visiting https://www.bsu.edu/web/unitedway/how-to-give or texting BSU20United to 91999. More Campaign details can be found at https://www.bsu.edu/web/unitedway.