In recent years, increased attention has been given to screening children and adolescents for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). ACEs include growing up in homes involving violence, abuse, neglect, mental health or substance abuse issues, parental separation, or incarceration. Researchers have found that ACEs negatively impact mental and physical health in adulthood and can limit life opportunities (CDC, 2020). Through screening, social workers can identify these experiences in a child’s life and then consider methods to prevent or mitigate the negative effects. Some screening tools have even been expanded to include related life events that contribute to toxic stress, in order to get a broader picture of a child’s experiences.
For this Assignment, you act as a social worker screening Juan Hernandez Jr. for ACEs and related life events. You then consider what you learned from the screening and how you would work with the family.
Complete the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life Events Screener for Juan Jr.
Then, in a 1- to 2-page paper, analyze what you learned from the assessment and how you might use it in practice. In your paper, address the following:
What plans would you make for working with this family based on the identified ACEs?
How would you administer the ACEs assessment in this case or other cases involving young children?
