Have you ever stopped to think that adverse childhood experiences could be the root cause of obesity, smoking, heart disease, alcoholism, diabetes, drug abuse or social emotional and cognitive impairment?

The Partnership for Children of Lenoir & Greene Counties, Eastpointe and Guardian Ad Litem have hosted numerous community events to share a documentary called, “Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope.” This documentary focuses on adverse childhood experiences studies (ACEs) and shares how and why lifelong effects of childhood adversity and toxic stress can affect a person through their lifetime.

The documentary is also a tool used to make agencies aware we need to be a community of resilience.  

According to Shonkoff and Garner, “The United States, like all nations of the world, is facing a number of social and economic challenges that must be met to secure a promising future. Central to this task is the need to produce a well-educated and healthy adult population that is sufficiently skilled to participate effectively in a global economy and to become responsible stakeholders in a productive society.”

The Lenoir/Greene Community Resilience Collaborative met for the second time at the Partnership for Children on Jan. 8.  The focus of the group is to ensure as a community, we promote better health and prevention of disease across a lifespan.  

Speakers Vichi Jagannathan and Seth Saeugling from the Rural Opportunity Institute informed the group about the work they are doing with Edgecombe County regarding ACEs. The collaborative includes representatives from Eastpointe, Kinston Community Health Center, EPIC and area department of social services offices, court officials and concerned citizens who are developing a strategic plan to bring resources together and work towards building a community of resilience.

To find more information on the dates and times of the ACE’s screenings or to attend the collaborative meetings, contact Partnership for Children of Lenoir and Greene Counties at 252-939-1200.  

Anna Kinsey is the director of community development and patient programs at the Kinston Community Health Center. You can reach her at 252-522-9800, ext. 252.