The momentum is growing. We are proud to stand at the forefront of an ACEs movement being driven by pediatric clinicians, educators, parents, policymakers and other child-serving professionals and advocates who are working to implement universal screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and treat the effects of toxic stress.
Our movement-building work is focused in three areas:
among parents and caregivers about the connection between ACEs and children’s physical, emotional and behavioral health
to adopt ACEs screening and toxic stress innovations into their medical practices
to change local and national systems to promote early screening for adversity and incorporate trauma-informed care
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress are one of the most critical unaddressed public health crises of our time. However, working together, it’s a challenge we can solve. To bring the issue of ACEs to the forefront and create demand for change, we launched the Stress Health public education campaign to educate, engage and activate parents and caregivers to demand access to early intervention and trauma informed care. The goal of the campaign is to help parents recognize the powerful force they can be in preventing and reversing the impacts of toxic stress in their children.
EXPLOREThe National Pediatric Practice Community on Adverse Childhood Experiences (NPPC) is a peer group of pioneering pediatric-serving medical practitioners supporting each other in expanding knowledge, building capacity, accessing resources, and shaping the field of ACEs research and trauma informed care. The NPPC was formed to support our national effort to transform clinical understanding and practice for children exposed to early adversity and toxic stress, and supports universal screening of children ACEs as a critical tool for interrupting the pathway to toxic stress and its short – and long-term consequences.
JOINThe Deepest Well, written by our founder and former CEO, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, explores the widespread crisis of adversity through the lens of science and medicine and personal narratives and provides a roadmap for deeper understanding of the impact of adversity on children and society.
READ ITTo advance the movement, we convene thought-leaders and advocates across all child-serving sectors at a biannual conference that provides a platform for cross-sector collaboration and learning and support. In 2018, with a theme of “Action to Access”, the conference focused on building on field’s collective awareness efforts to implement policies and practices that benefit the whole child and proudly welcomed over 900 professionals spanning various disciplines in the childcare space.
READ MORESee highlights from the 2018 ACEs Conference, which brought together professionals from different fields — from pediatric clinicians to teachers to law enforcement — to collaborate and learn.
WATCH NOWThe California Campaign to Counter Childhood Adversity (4CA) brings together cross-sector expertise and actions of individuals and organizations working to address childhood adversity across the state of California. 4CA strives to raise awareness about the effect of adversity on children, youth, families and communities, as well as address the gaps and inequities in systems so we can prevent and better respond to adversity and build resilience.
Leaders from dozens of local and state agencies, advocacy groups and other organizations have helped shape 4CA. The Center for Youth Wellness, along with advocacy organization Children Now, function as 4CA’s “Backbone Team,” which supports the campaign membership and Steering Committee.
LEARN MORE ABOUT 4CAThe groundbreaking TEDMED talk by Center for Youth Wellness founder and CEO Dr. Nadine Burke Harris was released in 2015 and has been viewed more than 3 million times. Dr. Burke Harris and her talk have helped to revolutionize national awareness and understanding on the health impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences and toxic stress. The talk is actively used in trainings, college curricula and continuing education programs.
The Center for Youth Wellness was featured in Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope, a documentary by filmmaker James Redford. The film outlines the physical, emotional and developmental impacts of adversity and toxic stress and chronicles the movement to fight back. Resilience premiered at the January 2016 Sundance Film Festival and has since been shown in schools, community centers and organizations across the country, spreading the message of toxic stress and ACEs to thousands.
EXPLORE RESILIENCECYW Data Report in partnership with Public Health Institute, November 6, 2014. IMPORTANT: Please see our Errata on page 2 that corrects a statistic on the association between ACEs and Alzheimer's as well as a clarification about the authorship of the report.
READ THE REPORTSparking a conversation about California’s future, this report includes the recommendations and perspectives of hundreds of cross-sector experts and lays out a concrete vision for a statewide response to childhood adversity in California.
READ THE REPORTThank you for your continued support of Center for Youth Wellness. As of June 25th, CYW has combined its operation with Safe & Sound. If you would like to continue donating to the programs of CYW, please make a donation to Safe & Sound here in honor of "CYW Programs".
All donations made to Center for Youth Wellness prior to June 25, 2021 (and which may arrive June 25th, 2021) will be transferred to Safe & Sound and designated for CYW Programs. The intent of your donation will be honored.
Please feel free to reach out to us with questions and comments at donations@safeandsound.org.
Email us at info@centerforyouthwellness.org or call us at (415) 684-9520.
Your support and voice can help change the trajectory of generations of children and families.
Center for Youth Wellness is not a crisis center. Those experiencing urgent medical or psychiatric concerns should dial 911 or their local emergency agency for assistance. We are unable to respond to messages requesting referrals, treatment or clinical consultations from individuals who are not our patients.