Authored By Rick Murdock, Michigan ACE Initiative Grant Coordinator

In my last blog, I discussed the need for raising expectations for state level policy and resource decisions. The basis for that recommendation is the combined research studies, medical research, and data regarding the magnitude of the presence of ACEs in our population.

The adage that “all politics are local” may have bearing on the success of the recommendations for state level action. That is due to the emerging support and work of local organizations from all regions of Michigan, who are leading the way for addressing and reducing adverse childhood experience. Let’s highlight a few of these regions.

We cannot begin this conversation without noting the work achieved by the Kalamazoo area United Way. This group has organized a coalition to bring awareness to the Kalamazoo region; nominated candidates for “Master Trainers” under our Michigan ACE Initiative; facilitated screenings of the ACE related video, “Resilience”; and most recently and, perhaps most important, has worked with the Kalamazoo County board of Commissioners in their adoption of a resolution to: “Build a Trauma Informed, Resilient, and Healthy Kalamazoo County.”

This resolution is one that can and should be used in other counties and by the State legislature in that it commits Kalamazoo County—and any other organization that adopts a similar resolution—to:

• Recognize importance of reducing the incidents of toxic stress and trauma;

• Commit resources to support building individual and community resilience;

• Deploy the Equity Task Force (existing group) to assess the county and report annually;

• Report at public meetings annually on actions taken related to the recommendations of the Equity Task Force; and

• Support the efforts of the Equity Task Force

A copy of the Kalamazoo Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution can be found at the Michigan ACE Initiative website.

Other regions in Michigan continue to be active, too. To briefly summarize the work being done in other regions:

The Muskegon region has been active for several years on the topic of ACE—including conducting their own survey of ACEs in the population, producing reports for community action and being part of the initial Master Training program for the Michigan ACE Initiative.

Muskegon region has been active for several years on the topic of ACE—has conducted their own survey of ACEs in the population, produced reports for the community action and were part of the initial Master Training program for the Michigan ACE Initiative.

The Flint region has been active due to the “water crisis” and due to the research and community-based programs based in Flint. Flint RECAST has been active in organizing the community around trauma and adolescent issues and hosted a recent summit on ACE Resilience earlier this Spring; The Crim Foundation has been supportive of interventions in schools for “mindfulness”, and the Mott Children Health Center is hosting in early June the annual Tuuri Day around a topic of “ACE Summit” and will feature notable national speakers including Dr. Vincent Feletti, M.D. (Co researcher with Dr. Rob Anda of the original ACE Study).

Similarly, the Battle Creek and Jackson Regions have been active. Battle Creek and Calhoun County have reached into various parts of the community with awareness on ACEs, facilitating the video “Resilience” and expanding its availability through acquiring additional licenses, and being part of the Master Training Program of the Michigan ACE Initiative. The Calhoun Region United Way has been a large supporter in these efforts. The Jackson region has been effective in establishing a trauma informed community, and in collaboration with other organizations including law enforcement, have created a model program for law enforcement to notify school officials regarding trauma related episodes. Related is the enhanced 2-1-1 program operated in Jackson for an 8-county region.

The Northern Michigan Regions have stepped up to the challenges of a rural environment and and have shown the value of collaboration among various human resource agencies. Much of this has emanated from the child abuse prevention coalitions supported by Michigan’s Children’s Trust fund and other actions are a result of leadership of local DHHS offices and local health officers. Their dedication was clear in the initial Master Training for the Michigan ACE Initiative held in Gaylord Michigan in the Spring of 2017.

Similar to the Northern region, areas of the Upper Peninsula have been aggressive in their outreach and regional collaboration regarding adverse childhood experiences. This region is the first to pair up with one of the Medicaid Health Plans, (Upper Peninsula Health Plan).

The Michigan ACE Initiative just completed Master Training in SE Michigan (March of 2018) and will have our final training in the Flint/Saginaw region in September of this year. At that time, we will continue to learn more of the regions strengths due to the candidates that will be accepted for training and their supporting organizations.

This summary of “grassroots” organizations and activity is meant to highlight for state lawmakers, administrators and others that the “legislative ask” highlighted in my last blog are not a “top down” approach, but rather an attempt to continue to support and nurture the work of the community organizations that are in place and will be in place to reduce adverse childhood experience in Michigan. If indeed, “all politics are local”, then this suggests that state policy makers can be assured of local support.