ACES 360
  • ACEs in Iowa
    • 2020 Iowa ACEs Report
    • What are ACEs
    • What contributes to ACEs
    • Outcomes from ACEs
    • Opportunities to Respond
    • Research and resources
    • Change the Outcome
  • Advocacy
  • How to respond
    • ACEs Training >
      • Lemonade for Life
    • Lived Expertise
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Prenatal Care
    • Faith
    • Individuals and Families
    • Pandemic Response
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Resources for Faith-Based Communities

Stress is something we all experience to varying degrees. However, when a person experiences stress that is powerful, frequent, prolonged, and unpredictable, particularly in childhood, those experiences can be traumatic and impact their life-long health. Traumatic stress can stem from events such as loss of a loved one, experiencing or witnessing physical violence, homelessness, or prolonged unemployment. 
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Faith communities and leaders equipped with an understanding of the impact of toxic stress can make profound progress not only in lessening poor health and social outcomes but also in preventing exposure to toxic stress by supporting individuals and families.
Learn about ACEs in Iowa

Opportunities to Respond

Here are ways you can get started in responding to ACEs in your role or carry your current work farther. 
  • ​Encourage a trauma-informed environment in your setting. 
  • Foster resilience.
  • Develop opportunities for shared community learning and support. 
  • Reach out to other faith groups and develop a collective response. 
  • ​Focus on a whole-family approach and integrate with other services in the community.
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Guides

Click the image below to access a guide that can help you learn the science and respond. 
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Faith community's guide to addressing toxic stress

Facilitated Discussions

Faith communities can be excellent sources of support for those who have experienced toxic stress. Resilience, or the ability to thrive, adapt, and cope despite adversity, depends greatly on caring relationships and community. Research shows that communities working together to build relationships and model resiliency have lower rates of childhood trauma and health problems in the next generation. 

The Iowa ACEs Coalition offers screenings of the award-winning film Resilience followed by a facilitated discussion. To request a screening, contact us.
Request a Screening
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Additional Resources

This section is for leaders of faith-based groups or organizations interested in developing a faith-community response to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and traumatic stress.

  • PACEs in Faith-Based Communities
  • HOPE in Faith Communities Toolkit
  • The Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships​
  • Mental Health First Aid
  • ​Eastern Mennonite University Trauma Resources page
  • Faith Trust Institute: working together to end sexual and domestic violence
  • ​Clergy Self-Care by Episcopal Relief & Development
  • Washington’s Family Policy Council Interviews with the Criminal Justice, Early Childhood Development, Faith, K-12 Public Education and Public Health Communities
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Iowa ACEs Report

Media 
About us

Iowa ACEs 360
P.O. Box 8301
​Des Moines, IA 50301 ​
  • ACEs in Iowa
    • 2020 Iowa ACEs Report
    • What are ACEs
    • What contributes to ACEs
    • Outcomes from ACEs
    • Opportunities to Respond
    • Research and resources
    • Change the Outcome
  • Advocacy
  • How to respond
    • ACEs Training >
      • Lemonade for Life
    • Lived Expertise
    • Education
    • Health Care
    • Prenatal Care
    • Faith
    • Individuals and Families
    • Pandemic Response
    • Additional Resources
    • Technical Assistance
  • Connect
    • Join the Coalition
    • Iowans Thrive Blog
    • Iowa Alliance for Healthy Kids
    • Upcoming Events
  • About Us
    • Our approach
    • Our story
    • Our Team
    • Media
    • Contact us
  • Donate