THUNDER BAY - Adverse childhood experiences can have significant impacts on individuals throughout all stages of life and extend to others in the community, which is why early childhood education is the responsibility of everyone.
“It is about acknowledging that parenting and caregiving and raising kids is a community job,” said Diane Walker, CEO of Children’s Centre Thunder Bay.
On Tuesday, Children’s Centre Thunder Bay launched a new education campaign on adverse childhood experiences.
The two-year initiative received $200,000 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and focuses on raising awareness, educating the public, and providing resources to mitigate the impacts of adverse childhood experiences on individuals, families, and the community.
“The ultimate goal is to bring this knowledge and thinking to everybody in the community so we can really recognize that kids matter, that young kids matter,” Walker said.
The training session on Tuesday included staff with Children’s Centre Thunder Bay, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, the Thunder Bay District Social Services Administration Board, Thunder Bay Counselling, and Anishnawbe Mushkiki.
Those participating had an opportunity to visualize the impacts of adverse childhood experiences through the interactive Brain Architecture Game.
“We are really hoping people will think, feel, and learn about adverse childhood experiences in a fun, interactive, and engaging way,” said Rene Monsma, program manager of early intervention and project lead with Children’s Centre Thunder Bay. “It’s a new way of learning, not classroom style, but bringing people together.”
Walker added it is also an opportunity for people to reflect on their own experiences.
“It is an opportunity to reflect on your own life and your work and how you as a human being and a person has had some hard things happen as a young person and what things helped you mitigate and get through those difficult things,” she said.
“Maybe it was a great teacher that supported you, a hockey coach, a counsellor, an elder, a family member. We realize the important role adults play in raising and developing kids in our community.”
Adverse childhood experiences involve traumatic events occurring before the age of 18-years-old and may involve physical, sexual, emotional abuse, neglect, or household challenges.
The effects of traumatic events at an early age can linger well into adulthood and result in chronic health issues, mental health disorders, and diminished quality of life.
The new initiative will focus on more education workshops, community resources, raising public awareness, and creating partnerships.
Walker said the session on Tuesday is the first of many and there are plans to roll out training to other organizations throughout the city and district.
“We will do some rollout this year and then try to get into more challenging areas, we have to do more planning,” she said. “This is the initial launch and then we will move out to schools, the district, business communities, areas that don’t normally have this kind of training.”
