Treating Adverse Childhood Experiences in Rural America

In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar speaks with Dr. Lindsay Druskin-Grimes about the complex relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), treatment engagement, and resilience in rural youth. The conversation highlights crucial insights for practitioners working with traumatized children, particularly in underserved settings. 

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Introduction to ACEs research and its relevance today 
01:07 - The relationship between ACEs, child functioning, and treatment engagement
09:48 - Research questions and hypotheses of the study 
11:19 - Demographics of the rural, highly traumatized child population 
13:31 - The high prevalence of ACEs, including neglect, abuse, and substance exposure 
16:41 - The significant stressors faced by caregivers in these communities 
19:00 - The high levels of trauma and loss in the population and cultural strengths 
26:44 - Key findings: higher ACEs correlate with less treatment attendance; resilience may mask needs 
33:23 - Lifelong skills development and the impact of early therapy 
34:48 - The specific risks associated with caregiver substance abuse exposure 
37:29 - The importance of addressing systemic issues to reduce ACEs 
39:21 - Future research directions and the long-term impact of treatment 

Resources:

The Role of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adaptive Skills in Treatment Engagement at a Rural Appalachian Child Advocacy Center | Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma | Springer Nature Link

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