Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan ACE (MIACE) Initiative, part of MPHI, recently held its annual conference, drawing 200 residents from across the state. The event aimed to raise awareness about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mitigate their effects on children in Michigan.

The conference, themed “Make an IMPACT: Implementing Measurable Programs to Address Childhood Trauma,” focused on implementing MIACE's framework and sharing expertise on childhood trauma. Matt Edick, Director of the Center for Strategic Health Partnerships at MPHI, emphasized the importance of understanding ACEs. “These are adverse living situations, unsafe neighborhoods, violence and abuse, neglect; this is parents who have mental health issues, anxiety, depression, joblessness, homelessness, incarceration. These are experiences that cause really extreme stress to children and they have long-lasting impacts or can have long-lasting lifetime impact,” Edick said.

The conference outlined six objectives to guide participants in understanding ACEs and their developmental, physical, and behavioral health impacts. Additionally, it aimed to inform attendees about Michigan programs addressing ACEs and how to apply trauma-informed care resources in their work.

To support these objectives, the event featured three community presentations alongside keynote speeches and multiple breakout sessions covering various topics related to ACEs. Speakers from diverse backgrounds shared their insights into the care and protection of Michigan youth. The success of the conference highlighted MIACE's achievements in advocacy, training, and developing preventative strategies for ACEs.

For more information on the MIACE Initiative visit:

Home – Michigan ACE Initiative (miace.org)