News Release
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David Bernard
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From Root Causes to Recovery
Delaware's first childhood trauma survey to announce results at Wilmington University Dover on December 7.
A child's exposure to abuse, neglect or family dysfunction may be directly linked to medical, mental or social problems he or she suffers as an adult. This idea has had a major impact on public health, education, criminal justice and related fields since 1998's landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study brought it to light.
Wilmington University is hosting the release of Delaware's first-ever survey on the statewide incidence of such early trauma.Jointly sponsored by the Delaware Public Health Institute and Trauma Matters Delaware, the data briefing will take place in the Building A auditorium on Wilmington University's Dover campus, 3282 N. DuPont Highway, at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7.
The presentation is free and open to the public.
The data, which was collected last fall for the Department of Health and Social Services as part of its Household Health Survey, probes the ACE study's findings that childhood traumas are more prevalent than had been recognized, that they often don't happen in isolation and that when more of them occur, they increase the risk of future adversities.
"This event is an important information pipeline to the public and shows us the issues that we have in our own state," said Dr. Debra L. Berke, Director of Psychology Programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Science at Wilmington University.
Dr. Berke, whose department launched a trauma-informed approaches certificate and training program earlier this year, explained that the survey's insights could prove extremely beneficial to preventive health efforts and the professionals who deliver them.
"We're born with innate capabilities for resilience and recovery, and we can learn those qualities," she said. "But we can't have an improvement plan if we don't even know what we need to improve."
At the data briefing, Khaleel S. Hussaini, Ph.D., a maternal and child health epidemiologist for the Delaware Division of Public Health, will present an analysis of ACEs as they correlate to the health and behaviors of the survey's respondents.
A panel discussion about applying the data toward improving the health and functionality of Delaware's residents, families and communities will follow. Participants will include Karyl Thomas Rattay, MD, director of the Delaware Division of Public Health, Brian M. Rahmer, Ph.D., who directs community health engagement for the Christiana Care Health System's women and children's health service line, and Tyrone Jones, chief impact office for the United Way of Delaware.
For more information, contact Dr. Leslie A. Brower, project director for trauma-informed care at the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, at leslie.brower@state.de.us or by calling (302) 255-9698.
About Wilmington University
Wilmington University is a private, nonprofit institution committed to providing flexible, career-oriented, traditional and online associate, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. Ranked as the second fastest growing nonprofit doctoral institution in America 2004 – 2014 by The Almanac of The Chronicle of Higher Education, affordable tuition, academic excellence and individualized attention are hallmarks of the University that enable greater student success in their chosen careers. For more information, contact Wilmington University at 302-356-INFO (4636), via email at infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit our website: www.wilmu.edu.
