jews d

in
the

Open During Construction

New Merchandise
Arriving Daily

ACE In
The Hole

Addressing
trauma early can
score big points
for kids and
families.

STONE'S

A

JEWELRY

6881 Orchard Lake Rd. on the Boardwalk

(248) 851-5030

stonesfi nejewelry@gmail.com

Franklin Cider Mill

“A FAMILY TRADITION”

NOW
OPEN!

248-626-8261

14 Mile Rd.
and Franklin Rd.

HOURS:
Open Daily
7am-6:30pm
Weekends
8am-6:30pm
Thanksgiving Day
8am-4pm
Last Day of Season,
Sunday,
November 26th

2121840

s therapists at Jewish Family
heart disease, sexually transmitted
Service, we see brave individ- infections, to name a few).
uals walk through our door
Plainly spoken, the higher and
every day to work to find solutions
more prolonged the exposure to
to life’s problems. Often, individuals
trauma as a child, the higher the
are struggling with marital
emotional and health risk as
issues, anger, parenting
an adult.
issues, substance use,
The ACE doesn’t describe
depression and other chal-
our destiny, but rather the
lenges they’ve spent years
trends that tend to impact
trying to deal with alone or
those of us with a history of
trying to forget about.
abuse, including increased
Approximately 30 per-
risk. The promise embedded
cent of these individuals
within this research is that if
Ginger Houghton
have been exposed to a
we
can intervene quickly and
Special to the
high level of trauma in
effectively to support families
Jewish News
early life through abuse,
experiencing abuse/violence,
violence or dysfunctional
we have a greater chance of
family dynamics. In ask-
improving their quality of life
ing for support, people are often
(Centers for Disease Control and
reluctant to talk about the painful
Prevention, 2012).
experiences of hitting or yelling or
October is Domestic Violence
chaos that punctuated their days
Awareness Month and a key time
and nights as kids. While not all
to reflect on the role of domestic
issues are connected to early trau-
violence in our community. Here are
matic experiences, for any of us with a few things you can do to help our
a high level of exposure to trauma,
community support those currently
these experiences are inextricably
in a domestic violence situation as
linked.
well as survivors:
Research over the past two
• Wear a purple ribbon this month
decades overwhelmingly shows
to help raise awareness.
how interconnected this experience
• Support those in your life in
is to the problems we see in our
seeking help through therapy at
daily lives as adults. The Adverse
Jewish Family Service, HAVEN or
Childhood Experience (ACE) Study,
a private practice. Know that you
the largest study of trauma in the
don’t need to fix the problem your-
United States, illuminates the link
self; an empathetic listener can play
between trauma endured during
a key role in helping others move
childhood and adult well-being
toward safety.
(Centers for Disease Control and
• If you’re a service provider to
Prevention, 2012).
young children and/or families,
The ACE study linked exposure to
implement the Adverse Childhood
physical/emotional/sexual abuse,
Experiences tools as a part of regu-
neglect, domestic violence, single-
lar screenings in your office to help
parent homes and parental mental
identify and respond to domestic
illness or substance use with long-
violence early in a child’s life.
term emotional (suicidality, sub-
• If you’re an educator, invest time
stance use, depression) and health
in learning the signs of abuse in
risks (COPD, obesity, liver disease,
young children and teenagers.
• If you’re a parent struggling with
your own history, seek support for
If you or a loved one is
yourself and your family. •
struggling, JFS can help. Contact
them at (248) 592-2313 or
Ginger Houghton is the director of Behavioral
resourcecenter@jfsdetroit.org.

Health Services at Jewish Family Service.

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October 26 • 2017

jn