Since 2014, the core has partnered with the Injury Prevention Research Center in building relationships with community organizations and agencies from across the state and UI researchers in efforts to reduce the burden of adverse childhood experiences.
Our Three Objectives:
1. Build a statewide leadership coalition to increase coordination and avoid duplication of efforts
Held a workshop in June 2015 to gather input on the idea of forming a statewide leadership coalition to allow for greater connection and sharing of activities between different groups across the state. We invited key leaders representing different regions and sectors to lead smaller discussions about how to structure the coalition and develop goals.
- 40 elderly childhood providers
- State department representatives
- Regional coalition leaders
Coalition development has been ongoing through this report period.
2. Facilitate a research agenda targeting gaps in the understanding and prevention of ACEs
We offered 1-year mini-grants to researchers (1 for $25,000) and community organizations (3 for $10,000) to support research and speed the process of translation of evidence-based strategies for preventing and reducing the downstream effects of adverse childhood experiences.
Current Funded Projects
- Pilot research project developing trauma informed practices among elementary school staff
- Training for mental and behavioral health service providers on child trauma counseling
- Dissemination and evaluation of community-based communications campaign around building healthy brains and healthy community
- Dissemination of a evidence-based curriculum for professionals working with parents and caregivers on identifying patterns of resilience, setting realistic goals, and linking families to appropriate community referrals.
We are halfway through the funding period.
Committee on Institutional Cooperation
To further support research efforts around childhood adversity, we also led a team of UI researchers with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) in the development of a joint proposal around adverse childhood experiences to the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC).
This committee is a consortium of universities affiliated with the Big Ten athletic conference, plus the University of Chicago. This proposal involved UI researchers from multiple disciplines responding to IDPH’s identified needs on translational research around childhood adversity.
If funded, this project will help build an evidence-base of effective strategies for identifying and treating children exposed to ACEs and implement changes in how these services are delivered.
3. Provide technical assistance to community organizations and agencies to improve services
When requested, we matched community organizations to researchers for advice and guidance on programmatic activities and evaluation.
Participants
- American Academy of Pediatrics - Iowa Chapter
- Early Childhood Iowa
- Eastern Iowa - Western Illinois Trauma Informed Care Consortium
- Central Iowa ACEs 360
- Child and Family Policy Center
- Family Resources, Inc.
- Iowa Department of Human Services
- Iowa Department of Public Health
- Johnson County ACEs Collaboration
- Lemonade for Life
- Mid-Iowa Health Foundation
- Prevent Child Abuse Iowa
- United Way of East Central Iowa
- United Way of Johnson and Washington Counties
New Statewide Data
The new Iowa ACEs report - Beyond ACEs: Building Hope & Resiliency in Iowa – shows that most Iowa adults have experienced childhood trauma, an indicator of higher rates of the following:
- Chronic diseases
- Mental illness
- Violence
- Risky behaviors
- Reduced life expectancy.
Emerging Iowa responses highlight the importance of building caring relationships within sectors and communities to promote resiliency so that we can improve our well-being.
Help the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa continue making new strides in medical research by citing the NIH CTSA program grant UM1TR004403.