Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are common, potentially traumatic events that impact one's health and well-being. These harmful experiences increase the risk of chronic comorbidities, mental health problems, and substance use disorders; this risk exponentially increases in children and adolescents with four or more ACEs. They are associated with socially disadvantaged populations and structural violence in communities. ACEs are categorized into abuse, neglect, and household challenges, which are proven to contribute to the longevity of health, behavioral, social problems, and even premature death through an accretion of studies. A steady rise in ACEs in New Mexico ranked in the top five states with the highest ACE score (Sacks & Murphey, 2018). Decades of research indicate early identification and intervention are critical to mitigating the effects of ACEs, yet, there is no consensus on specific strategies for correctly identifying or assessing risk factors in children and youth, nor are there any recommendations from previous studies on overt interventions to aid in building resiliency in those with multiple ACEs. This study seeks to answer the question, does engagement with a navigation-led medical team for two months impact resiliency scores of youths that have experienced four or more adverse childhood events compared to those following standard medical care?

Language

English

Document Type

Scholarly Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Level of Degree

Doctoral

First Committee Member

Therese Hidalgo, DNP, FNP-BC

Keywords

Adverse childhood experiences, ACEs, adolescent, children, youth, toxic stress, pediatric stress, pediatric trauma, stress outcomes, pediatric interventions, pediatric resiliency

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