Introduction to White Paper Purpose

Center for Child Counseling's Fighting ACEs Initiative presents this White Paper to Palm Beach County's community and sector leadership in order to identify opportunities for a community and cross sector response to the ACEs public health crisis

This paper shows just how many of the community challenges we face today from violence, substance abuse, addiction, suicide, and chronic disease are correlated to people younger than 18 who have experienced multiple, unbuffered ACEs and trauma.

This paper is not an exhaustive list of Palm Beach County's possibilities, opportunities, or partnerships Rather, it is a working document designed to stimulate conversation around innovation for improved child well-being that will result in community success and opportunity.

This paper is meant to be a living document, with updates, corrections, and changes that will educate Palm Beach County on the public health model, generate conversation, and create opportunity for strategic actionable steps forward in effectively addressing ACEs With long-term consequences of the pandemic yet to be determined, action around these issues is imperative

We have to be brave, honest, and committed to create systems change with an actionable plan.

The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County supports the Fighting ACEs Initiative work in our community Prevention must start as early as possible to have the maximum impact on the lives of our future generations We need to focus on the prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences, which means working with children and families well before they reach middle school or adulthood

-Dr. Alina Alonso Former Director, Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County

-Dr. Karl Menninger Noted American Psychiatrist