ACEs Aware Trauma-Informed Screenings Begin at Tarzana Treatment Centers
The California ACEs Aware screening program is a positive step in the right direction. As a compassionate healthcareorganization, Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. (TTC) focuses on providingintegrated treatment programs and whole-person service options. Thus, TTC is proud to be part of this initiative. From the beginning, TTC has known the vital role of trauma-informed care.
By employing a hub and spoke model, Tarzana Treatment Centers will train in-house staff. After training, we will treat a wider range of patients. Indeed,as led by Jim Sorg and Ebonie Thomas, the ACEs Aware program opens the door. Once opened, TTC will work with a wide range of community health centers in Southern California.
As funded by the Office of the California Surgeon General and the Department of Health Care Services, ACEs Aware is a trauma-focused initiative. The initiativefunds training, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for adverse childhood experiences. Such experiences lead to toxic stress.By detectingsuch trauma as early as possible, we connect patients to interventions and support services. Thus, long-term health outcomes are improved. As always, positive shifts in health outcomes improve the well-being of individuals and families.
ACEs Aware Trains Staff in Trauma-Informed Care
The first step in the ACEs Aware initiative is the training of TTC medical, clinical, and treatment staff. After training, a quick and effective tool enters the tool-belt. The screening reveals the toxic effects of childhood trauma in a patient. Although such trauma takes time and effort to treat, the first step is awareness. The ACEs Aware initiative fosters such awareness. It is a priority for medical, clinical, and treatment providers.
After training, staff members at Tarzana Treatment Centers apply the new diagnostic tool to patients. Thus, many TTC facilities are part of the process. Hence, the initial screenings focus on an adult population. Later, the screening of teenagers and children follows. In the first push, the focus is on teenagers and children in active Tarzana Treatment Centers healthcare programs. For example, all the TTC Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) are taking part.
Second Push Expands ACEs Aware Screenings to Community Centers
The second push of the ACEs Aware Initiative is treating patients from SoCal community health centers. Given the value provided by the screenings, TTC wants to ensure that our trained staff continue to take full advantage of this new skill set. Thus, as part of the grant funding, TTC forms strategic partnerships with the San Fernando Community Health Center, the Mission City Community Network, and the Valley Care Community Consortium.
However, these strategic partnerships are only the beginning. Down the line, Tarzana Treatment Centers plans to expand these partnerships to include more organizations. With the ACEs Aware initiative, there is an opportunity to shift the greater healthcare dialogue towards the very heart of the TTC mission. Focused on integrated, compassionate healthcare services, TTC treats the whole person from the beginning. Thus, a focus on trauma-informed care is an essential part of any such service options.
ACEs Aware Screening and Trauma-Informed Care Equal Recovery
When it comes to the goal of trauma-informed care, Ebonie Thomas, Care Integration Manager for the TTC program, expresses it so well. She says, “I’m thrilled to be co-leading Tarzana Treatment Centers adoption and implementation of ACEs Aware screening and protocols. There is no doubt that the toxic stress resulting from a traumatic experience is a crisis both in California and nationally.
As of 2020, adverse childhood experiences that result intoxic stress are expensive. They result in healthcare expenditures that cost California a total of $112.5 billion per year. In response, we commit to connecting our patients and their families to services that help. We want them to know that not only is healing possible, but such healing can open the door to a pathway of future happiness and success.”
Indeed, the implementation of the ACEs Aware Initiative is a great step forward for both Tarzana Treatment Centers, Inc. and California as a whole. By prioritizing early childhood trauma treatment and mitigating the negative effects of toxic stress, lives will be saved.