President Fred introduced our speaker today: Lauren Geraghty is the Director of Strategic Impact Initiatives at Community in Schools of San Antonio (CISSA). (Our club members are already familiar with CISSA, of course, because we have given financial donations to the organization's "Stuff the Bus" annual event for several years. CISSA itself is part of a large national organization whose mission, simply stated, is to keep AT-RISK kids in school through high school graduation. It is (by far) the most successful agency of its type at doing exactly what it intends, and the San Antonio chapter is recognized as a model for other chapters in the organization to emulate.)
Lauren told us about the impact of a Harvard University study that was initiated more than 20 years ago. It is called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and has enlightened the world about the overt and covert ways that we adults often influence the development of our children's mental health with insidious effect. Lauren is a certified ACEstrainer for professionals who are engaged in children's emotional development (e.g. counselors and educators). And the good news is that she came with a prescription for reducing, if not totally avoiding, the affect of events, including toxic stress, are typically harmful to a child's mental health. She spent a signitificant amount of time on this subject: Toxic Stress. Toxic stress can, among other things, lead to disease, disability and social/relational problems through the life course. In her literature shared with the club there was this hope: ACE Prevention: Our Powerful Legacy. ACE Prevention is the greatest opportunity for improving the well-being of human populations. Protective Systems Promote Resilience. Three protective systems interact and guide positive adaptation: 1) individual capabilities 2) attachment and belonging, and 3) community, faith, and cultural processes. These three systems are nested: people do best with they are living in flourishing families and communities.
Thank you, Lauren, for your work in this important field of childhood development. We are donating a book in your honor to the Locke Hill Elementary School Library. We would love to see you again - please visit us any time for lunch!