Partners to Promise (Youth Initiative)

The History of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are potentially traumatic events that can have negative, lasting effects on health and well-being, and can last a lifetime. These experiences range from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to parental divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, death or the incarceration of a parent, and witnessing or being the victim of neighborhood violence. Ace's especially when they cause toxic levels of stress, have been found to impair multiple aspects of health and development. These effects are especially likely when children have had exposure to multiple adversities. In fact, the more adversities an individual has experienced, the higher the likelihood that individual will have serious mental and physical health problems later in life. (http:www.childhealthdata.org)

Early childhood trauma is a risk factor for almost everything from adult depression to PTSD and most psychiatric disorders, as well as a host of medical problems, including cardiovascular problems such as heart attack, stroke, cancer, and obesity. People suffering from traumatic memories may try to escape them from participating in risky behaviors such as drinking, smoking, drug use, or even overeating for comfort,

The Facts

2017-2018, one in three children under the age of 18 were reported to have suffered at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) in their lifetime and 14 percent two or more ACE's.
Non-Hispanic, African American children and youth are more likely than their non-Hispanic white and Hispanic peers to have had three or more adverse experiences (17 percent, compared to 10 and 11 percent, respectively, in 2017).
Poor children are more likely to have experienced three or more adverse experiences, In 2018, 13 percent of children living below the poverty level had three or more adverse experiences, compared to 5 percent of children in households with incomes more than twice the poverty level.

Partners to Promise
Youth Initiative

The Partners to Progress Program is a youth initiative, dedicated to unite clients suffering from ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) with appropriate programs and extracurricular activities that are suited to their interests and talents. Research suggests that extracurricular activities provide opportunities to cultivate these interests and talents and introduce and develop interpersonal and life skills, gaining insight into competencies and passions, and broadening connections with peers and significant adults.

The number one identified protective factor for a child/young adult is "healthy attachments." The more healthy relationships in their lives, the more resilient they become. These relationships clearly play a key role in the capacity of this child/young adult to survive traumatic stress. Children with extended and involved family, invested neighbors, and caring teachers, coaches, and community members have statistically fewer problems following severe trauma. The number one "barrier" in this area is the inability to "connect" and "use" this support system. Isolated children/young adults with few social and emotional connections are very vulnerable to distress and traumatic stress and are more likely to regress, develop dysfunctional styles of coping and become increasingly impulsive, aggressive, inattentive, and depressed. Partners to Promise Youth Initiative will address these key areas in connecting these children/young adults to supportive and new learning environments. Our mission is to foster healthy growth and development during these challenging times in a child's life.

Favors Forward Foundation partners with youth focused organizations that make their mission to enhance children's lives for the youth experiencing ACEs and reduce the negative impact of these events. Our referral sources identify youth experiencing ACEs and immediately connect them to "Partners to Promise Youth Initiative". "Partners to Promise Youth Initiative" will systematically identify and evaluate youth experiencing ACEs and immediately connect them to programs that enrich a child's life and can prevent and alleviate the stress-related health risk behaviors, conditions and disability associated with ACEs. The gradual gaining of new skills gives a child/young adult experience with facing a challenge, developing mastery and experiencing success - thousands of tiny challenges and successes help build confidence and over time, resilience. These programs are "all expense paid." through Favors Forward Foundation, provided at a reduction in price by the organizations, and funded by donations.