Legacy of Legends hired a lobbyist to pass an amendment to Child Custody and Support law requiring parents to attend an educational seminar to include a 30 minute video on ACEs created by the Department of Children’s Services in conjunction with the commission on children and youth or as part of the Building Strong Brains Tennessee public awareness campaign.
It's Not What's Wrong, It's What Happened To You!
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events occurring before age 18. ACEs include all types of abuse and neglect as well as parental mental illness, substance use, divorce, incarceration, and domestic violence.
The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study is a research study conducted by the U.S. health maintenance organization Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants were recruited to the study between 1995 and 1997 and have been in long-term follow up for health outcomes.
Building Strong Brains is an initiative working to change the culture of Tennessee so that the state’s overarching philosophy, policies, programs and practices for children, youth and young adults utilize the latest brain science to prevent and mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences. Science tells us that many children’s futures are undermined when stress damages the early brain architecture. But, the good news is that potentially toxic stressors can be made tolerable if children have access to stable, responsive adults. Healthy child development is the foundation for education achievement, economic productivity, responsible citizenship and lifelong health. It is our duty to take a stand for all children.