Definitions

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations ever conducted to assess associations between adverse childhood experiences and later-life health and well-being.  The study is a collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kaiser-Permanente’s Health Appraisal Clinic in San Diego. Ten types of childhood trauma are assigned an ACE store determining potential emotional, physical, behavioral risks and how these risks affect society.  The ten types of ACEs included in the original study by the CDC and Kaiser-Permanente include:

Alaska has joined more than twenty states in ACE data collection.  In our community, the Southern Kenai Peninsula Resilience Coalition has expanded our definition of ACEs to include Adverse Childhood, Collective and Cultural Experiences.

Advocacy

Advocacy is the active promotion of a cause of principle; it involves intentional action to influence a specific goal.

Coalition

A coalition is a group of individuals representing different perspectives who come together to promote and support change. Coalitions can address a variety of community issues including, but not limited to, substance use/misuse, violence or suicide prevention, community wellness, community justice issues or other community concerns.

Connectedness

Connectedness is experienced as either: 1) Connectedness to people – giving and receiving support, warmth, and respect. Or, 2) Connection to places having a sense of belonging or identity to a place or organization (i.e. feeling connected to the land, a school, a club, a team, a cause, or their culture). Activities that increase supportive relationships and/or a sense of belonging to positive places contribute to health, wellness, and resilience. Connectedness is experienced as connection to people or a positive affirmation to “places”. Emotional support is provided by being close to or attached to other people. Support provides assistance in working through problems, and guidance in taking on new challenges. Connectedness is a significant protective factor related tot substance use/misuse, suicide, and violence prevention.

Culturally-Responsive

Culturally-Responsive means that the program, organization, or system recognizes that discrimination, unequal treatment, and systems that are not designed with the diverse cultural backgrounds and identities of clients, families, and staff in mind often add to the experiences of toxic stress and cumulative trauma. Therefore, to be truly trauma-informed, a focus on equity and cultural responsiveness is needed to create safety for all clients, family, and staff.

Culture

Culture is the sum total of ways of living, including values, beliefs, traditions, protocols, rituals, languages, behavioral norms, ways of knowing, and styles of communication.

Domestic Violence (DV)

Domestic Violence (DV) is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans. The term “intimate partner violence” describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy.* (CDC).

*our coalition has historically used “domestic violence” and “intimate partner violence” interchangeably

Resilience

Resilience is the ability to “bounce back” from life challenges, problems, and trauma. People who have supportive family and friends, possess skills to cope with life successfully, and are engaged in activities that give their life meaning and purpose are more likely to be resilient.

Risk Factors

Characteristics within the individual or conditions within the family, school, culture, or community that increase the likelihood that individuals (especially youth) will become involved in problem behaviors such as substance use, violence, suicide, and early pregnancy. The more a community can reduce its risk factors, the less likely people will develop health and social problems later in life.

Substance Abuse (SA)

Substance Abuse (SA) is maladaptive pattern of substance use manifested by recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to the repeated use of substances. (DSM-IV)

Social Competencies

Social Competencies include abilities to communicate, resolve conflicts, get along with others, empathize, and be culturally sensitive.

Trauma

Trauma is the negative impact of experiences of events that happen to children, adults and communities as a result of physical, economic, psychological or environmental assault. Trauma may include physical, emotional and/or sexual abuse. Trauma may be caused by domestic violence, community violence, war, loss, natural disaster, long-term exposure to maltreatment and other conditions. Developmental trauma may begin before birth and continue across the lifespan. Trauma may be predictable or unforeseen.