UC Receives Funding To Increase Awareness Of Adverse Childhood Experiences

The Upper Cumberland has received $150,000 to increase awareness of Adverse Childhood experiences or ACEs.

“I am pleased that our community has received this important funding that will help raise awareness of behaviors that hinder the mental and emotional development of some of our youngest residents,” Cookeville State Representative Ryan Williams said.

ACE’s include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse that a child might go through in life. ACEs have been shown to negatively impact a child’s brain-building process. Studies also show that children who experience f0ur or more ACEs are at a higher risk for poor outcomes later in life including chronic illness, poverty, depression, and addictive behaviors.

$45,000 will support WCTE’s production of a series of stand-alone television episodes titled: “Building Strong Brains: Aces, the Tennessee Story.” The purpose of the six episode series is to increase awareness about ACEs, as well as offer solutions and strategies to overcome them and build resilience.

Additionally, $105,000 was contracted to the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth in order to develop a public awareness program related to ACEs.