ACE Educator Program

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is the term given to describe all types of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic childhood experiences. Findings from a landmark study by Kaiser Permanente, bolstered by ongoing surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), show that experiencing one or more ACEs is linked to many lifelong health and social problems.

The ACE Study has profound implications for policies and practices in diverse settings. Professionals in health, education, violence prevention, criminal justice, and child and family services are finding ways to integrate awareness of ACEs into their work, in Louisiana and nationwide. Practices that are informed by the lifelong impact of childhood adversity and trauma make an important contribution to the health, safety, and well-being of every community member. Addressing ACEs as a common risk factor can reduce healthcare costs, promote health equity, and make a real impact on quality of life.

The ACE Educator Program continues to build community awareness around ACEs, trauma, and resilience science via a robust network of trained educators. The Bureau of Family Health provides trainings for small cohorts of volunteers to become ACE Educators, who then offer no-cost presentations to agencies, organizations and community groups across the state of Louisiana.

Schedule a presentation

The ACE Educator Program offers ACEs trainings at no cost to organizations and community groups across Louisiana. Our presentation materials have been vetted by experts in the field and are designed to effectively teach audiences across the state about the impact of childhood trauma and promote open, ongoing conversations about these issues.

Presentations are customizable and can be tailored to the needs of your organization. View a description of the components we offer. Depending on the elements you choose, presentations can range in length from 1 hour to a full day.

Schedule a presentation online or by contacting acepresentation@la.gov.

Please note: Our presentations are staffed by dedicated volunteers who generously donate their time and skills. While we strive to accommodate all requests, due to the voluntary nature of our program, presentations may not always be available as requested. We cannot guarantee that requests will be fulfilled on specific dates or times, and presentations may need to be rescheduled or canceled based on volunteer availability. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to fulfill presentation requests.

Become an ACE Educator

Do you want to go beyond the ACE Presentation? You can apply to become an ACE Educator at any time, and we will notify when there are training opportunities available.

The scope of the ACE Study, and its health and economic implications, make it an ideal platform for facilitating collaboration between diverse people, organizations, and service sectors working to improve health and well-being across the lifespan. As an ACE Educator, you could play a key role in spreading the word about this important research and establishing a common language and vision for change.

Who should apply?

• Representatives of all professional fields and communities
• People with professional, personal, or lived experience with childhood adversity, resilience, and systems that interact with children and families
• Those with an interest in ongoing learning about Adverse Childhood Experiences, educating others about ACEs, and working to build community resilience

We ask each ACE Educator to provide a minimum of four presentations annually, though most educators present more than this. We also ask ACE Educators to participate in an ongoing Community of Practice, supporting each other in presentations and working together to help communities and systems become trauma-informed.

You can apply to become an ACE Educator at any time, and we will notify you when we are planning future cohorts. Previously, we have trained 25-50 new ACE Educators annually. As interest in ACEs grows across the state, we will do our best to accommodate demand for training.

LEARN MORE AND APPLY

The Louisiana ACE Initiative

The ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience) Educator Program was created through a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Health’s Bureau of Family Health and the Tulane Institute of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, with the support of the Louisiana ACE Initiative. The Louisiana ACE Initiative is a network of child-focused organizations dedicated to creating a common understanding of ACEs within Louisiana communities and educating the child- and family-serving workforce.