ACES 360
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      • Pediatric Trauma Informed Guide
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Resources for Health Care

​Stress operates along a continuum. In small or moderate doses, stress can be beneficial. However, stressful experiences in childhood that are powerful, frequent, prolonged, and in unpredictable doses can be detrimental to a child’s development and life-long health. ​Clinicians and staff in the health care field have a unique opportunity to address toxic stress in individuals and advocate for developing systems that build strong, stable, nurturing communities. 
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Learn about ACEs in Iowa

Opportunities to Respond

Here are ways you can get started in responding to ACEs in your role. 
  • Establish a trauma-informed environment in your clinic.
  • Improve access to integrated care models that work with community resources, mental health services, and services for the whole family.
  • ​Educate peers, staff, families, colleagues, friends, and community leaders about the impact of toxic stress on health and the community.
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Handouts

Click the images below to access guides and handouts that can help you learn the science and respond. 
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​A health practitioner's guide to addressing toxic stress

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Handouts for talking about child stress and how parents can respond. 
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Kids and Stress
File Size: 1101 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Kids and Feelings
File Size: 766 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Developed by Dr. Amy Shriver

Pediatric Guide

​As a near universal access point for children in our state, pediatric and family practice clinics are well-positioned to support prevention and early identification of stressors with families. The ACEs Pediatric Project seeks to support practice change in pediatric and family care clinics through education and technical assistance. Core components of the project include:
  • Pediatric Trauma Informed Guide: A core group of trauma and child health experts joined together to provide guidance in the development of the Pediatric Trauma Informed Guide.
  • Pediatric Practice Assessment: Led by Armeda Wojciak, PhD, at University of Iowa, a practice assessment was developed to assist in identifying practice change opportunities within clinics.
  • Technical Assistance: Led by Dr. Amy Shriver, MD and pediatrician, and Lisa Cushatt, LMSW, selected clinics will be provided training and guidance to move along the continuum to become a more trauma-informed practice. 
Use the Guide
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Additional Resources

Health Care
The resources included in this section are particularly relevant for professionals working in the field of health care. Mental health professionals and other professionals who work in hospital or clinical settings and public health professionals may also find these resources relevant to their work.


  • Dr. Stacey Neu’s response, UnityPoint Clinic, Family Medicine, East Des Moines
  • Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris’ Center for Youth Wellness
    • A link to Dr. Burke-Harris' TED talk
    • CYW Adverse Childhood Experiences
  • Amazing Brain by Linda Chamberlain
  • American Academy of Pediatrics: Toxic Stress Threatens Kids’ Long-term Health
  • Domestic Violence in the health care setting
    • Hospital-Based Domestic Violence Programs, report from Maryland
    • Delphi Instrument for Hospital-based Domestic Violence Programs
  • Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health
  • The Health Center at Lincoln in Walla Walla, Washington
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Public Health Response to Toxic Stress
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Healthy Foster Care America Trauma Guide
Mental Health
The resources included in this section are particularly relevant for mental health professionals. Other health professionals who work in hospital or clinical settings and public health professionals may also find these resources relevant to their work.


  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Circle of Security:
    • Website
    • Book
  • Art therapy
  • Play therapy
  • Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC)
    • Overview document
    • Treating traumatic stress in children and adolescents: How to foster resilience through attachment, self-regulation, and competency
    • Attachment, self-regulation, and competency: A comprehensive intervention framework for children with complex trauma
  • Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services: Strengthening hope and resilience everyday (SHARE)
  • National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health: Creating trauma-informed services tip sheet series
  • Birth Parents with Trauma Histories and the Child Welfare System: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals
  • Engaging women in trauma-informed peer support
  • National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors National Center for Trauma Informed Care
  • Self-care for trauma psychotherapists and caregivers: individual, social, and organizational interventions  
  • Complex Trauma Treatment Network (CTTN)
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Iowa ACEs Report

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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
    • Pandemic Response
    • ACEs Training >
      • Education Trainers
    • Education
    • Health Care >
      • Pediatric Trauma Informed Guide
    • Prenatal Care
    • Faith
    • Individuals and Families
    • Additional Resources
    • Technical Assistance
  • Connect
    • Join the Coalition
    • Iowans Thrive Blog
    • Upcoming Events
    • Stories
  • About Us
    • Our approach
    • Our story
    • Coalition Partners
    • Media
    • Contact us
  • Donate