1. Strengthening Families Overview
Michelle Burkhard
BS, MA in ECE, PhD Candidate, MOM OF 3!

4. Purpose
ACE’s
Protective Factors
Parent Cafes
Inspiration

5. ACE Study Overview Study population Common Results of exposure
- development
- disease
- social
Additional studies

6. ACE’s Pyramid/Results

7. ACE Test 5 personal questions 5 questions about others Not inclusive
ACE’s do not = negative outcomes

8. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often…
Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? (OR) Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?

9. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often…
Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? (OR) EVER hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?

10. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you EVER…
Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? OR attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?

11. Did you often or very often feel that…
No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? OR your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?

12. Did you often or very often feel that…
You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? (OR) your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor in you needed it?

13. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?

14. Was you mother or stepmother:
Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her?
(OR) Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard?
(OR) EVER repeatedly hit at least a few minutes or threated with a gun or knife?

15. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic or who used street drugs?

16. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?

17. Did a household member go to prison?

18. GOOD NEWS! Protective factors trump ACE’s EVERY TIME!
SF builds in PF’s…

19. George’s ACE’s
George and twin, anemic mom, formula allergies, dairy at 3 months
George often physically abused as a form of punishment, left marks and injuries
At age of 4, George sexually abused by grandfather, later by uncle
Family moved 5 times before George was 6 years old
George often felt alone, experienced emotional neglect
Father between jobs, little income, family often hungry
Mother attempted suicide when George was two during a period of grief

20. George’s ‘Issues’ Severe allergies and often unhealthy as a child
Chronic bronchitis and pneumonia by 7
In college- suicide attempt
Diagnosed with asthma at 25
Suffered a mini stroke at 33
Diagnosed with diabetes at 36
Several near death medication reactions

21. ACE’s Pyramid/Results

23. Protective Factors Parental Resilience- growing through hard times
Social Connections-making friends
Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
Concrete support in times of need
Social and emotional competence of children

24. Parent Café Questions 5 questions Choose One Discuss Report Out
Debrief

25. George’s Protective Factors
Family always involved in church
Parents- teachers, some child development
Often took assistance from the church, food pantry’s, or family for food and clothing
Several teachers along the way took an interest in George
Very involved in school, sports, and activities in high school and college
Went to school to be a teacher

26. George….

27. Blind Man Video

28. Conclusion
Questions?