This course will introduce you to the concept of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). You will learn how issues such as child abuse, neglect, divorce or substance abuse by parents, and adverse economic circumstances, can affect the physical and emotional health of children and teenagers well into adulthood. They can cause anxiety, mental health issues, impaired brain development and life-threatening diseases.

You will learn about the damaging effects of extreme stress reactions and the problems caused by poor attachment to parental figures and caregivers.

You will become familiar with the types of planning, strategies and implementation required to help buffer and protect children and teenagers who are living in these situations, through interventions at school and at home.

You will understand the possible societal interventions for breaking the generational cycle of abuse.

What you will learn:

• The ten major ACEs and how economic disadvantage can also be seen as an ACE
• What toxic stress and stress reactions are
• The theories behind the concept of attachment and the risks to a child or teenager if they experience insecure forms of attachment
• Strategies to help children with ACEs cope
• The strategies that parents and caregivers can use to help children verbalise and grieve their experiences in a safe space
• The societal responsibility and strategies required to break the cycle of abuse

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