A new publication from the Health Policy Institute of Ohio details the state’s progress in taking action on four key evidence-informed strategies to prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Early childhood education, early childhood home visiting, medical-legal partnerships and family income supports.
“Ensuring a strong start for children and strengthening economic supports for families both contribute to making sure that every child in Ohio has the opportunity to reach their full health potential” the publication states.
Among the findings in the brief are that the need for home visiting services is greater among groups of Ohioans most at risk for childhood adversity (as illustrated in the graphic above). For example, while 38.2% of Hispanic children, ages 0-5, in Ohio were exposed to ACEs, only 8.7% of the pregnant women and primary caregivers receiving ODH- and ODM-funded home visiting services were Hispanic in Federal fiscal year 2021.
The publication released today is the first of three examining opportunities to prevent ACEs in Ohio. ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood and can generally be grouped into three categories: abuse, household challenges and neglect.
In 2020 and 2021, HPIO released a series of policy briefs on the health and economic impacts of ACEs and elevated 12 evidence-based, cost-effective strategies (programs, policies and practices) that prevent ACEs before they happen and improve health. HPIO’s new series is focused on analyzing the implementation status of these strategies in Ohio.
HPIO’s previous research found that Ohio can eliminate more than $10 billion in annual healthcare and related spending attributable to ACEs exposure.
Original source can be found here.
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