title: Reducing adverse childhood experiences (ACE) by building community capacity: a summary of Washington Family Policy Council research findings.
abstract: Community capacity for organization and collaboration has been shown to be a powerful tool for improving the health and well-being of communities. Since 1994 the Washington State Family Policy Council has supported the development of community capacity in 42 community public health and safety networks. Community networks bring local communities together to restructure natural supports and local resources to meet the needs of families and children, and increase cross-system coordination and flexible funding streams to improve local services and policy. In this study, researchers sought to demonstrate the strong impact of the community networks' capacity to interrupt health and social problems. Findings suggest that community networks reduce health and safety problems for the entire community population. Further, community networks with high community capacity reduced adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in young adults ages 18-34.
authors.affiliation: Washington Department of Social and Health Services, Olympia, Washington 98504-5011, USA. judy.hall@dshs.wa.gov
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Jody
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Becker-Green
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dreyfus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D057191:Capacity Building; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019058:Community Networks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011634:Public Health; D012940:Social Problems / Q000517:prevention & control; D012947:Social Work; D014861:Washington; D055815:Young Adult