Resiliency & Protective Factors
Fortunately, ACEs prevention, promoting Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), and early identification and early intervention for children who experience ACEs, can help heal and/or prevent the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences and childhood trauma.
Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) are experiences throughout childhood that bring a sense of connection and belongingness. There are both individual, family, and community protective factors that can build resilience and buffer the impact of ACEs. According to the CDC (2021), the following are examples of individual, family, and community protective factors:
- Individual and Family Protective Factors:
- Children who have a consistent family life where they are safe, supported and taken care of
- Children who have positive friendships
- Children who do well academically
- Children who have mentors/role models or other caring adults outside of the family
- Caregivers that can meet basic needs of food, shelter, and health services for children
- Caregivers who have a college degree or higher
- Caregivers with steady employment
- Families with strong social support networks
- Families where caregivers engage in parental monitoring, supervision, and consistently enforce rules
- Families where caregivers/adults work through conflicts peacefully
- Caregivers that help children work through their problems
- Families that engage in fun activities together
- Families that encourage the importance of school for their children
- Community Protective Factors:
- Access to economic and financial help
- Access to medical care and mental health services
- Safe and stable housing
- Families have access to safe childcare and pre-schools
- Engaging after school programs
- Work opportunities that adopt family-friendly workplace policies
- Strong partnerships between the community, businesses, health care, government and other sectors
- Residents feel connected and involved in the community
- Violence is not tolerated
Trauma intersects in many ways with our lives, including our culture, history, identities, and where we live. A trauma-informed lens considers the historical and structural inequities that exist and responds to each community in unique ways that are most beneficial to them. It is essential to have cultural awareness, humility, and responsiveness when working with children and families that have experienced trauma. CHWs are an important link to reduce health disparities in trauma-informed care to reduce barriers and stigma while also promoting positive change and strength in the communities served.
- What is cultural humility? Cultural humility is the act of always learning from and listening to communities in order to continue self-evaluate and self-critique our response to unique and diverse communities. It emphasizes breaking down power imbalances and developing strong relationships with advocates for communities (Waters & Asbill, 2013).
Protective factors are characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. For example, research shows that strong cultural identification is a protective factor that makes adolescents less vulnerable to risk factors for drug use and more able to benefit from protective factors than adolescents who lack this identification (Zickler, 1999).
Many cultures encourage personal wellness, positive self-image, self-efficacy, familial and non-familial connectedness, positive social norms, and cultural/ social connectedness. These factors are positive influences that can reduce risky behavior and increase emotional health.
Cultural norms that CHWs can consider include:
- Collectivist vs. Individualist cultural norms: Can impact the way trauma is understood and experienced. Examples include viewing traumatic events as being part of a larger plan or for the greater good.
- Gender roles and norms: Some forms of trauma are looked at as expected or accepted and can also impact the way trauma is talked about and or internalized, this is especially true related to gender-based violence.
- Spiritual beliefs: sometimes traumatic events can be experienced as a rite of passage or as part of a divine calling or intervention.
- These belief systems can be protective factors in some cases. The important thing to remember is that not all people experience, express, or process their trauma in the same way. Understanding this can help to reduce stigma.
- Resiliency
- Cultural backgrounds such as values, language, customs can help people to thrive in the face of adversity, and to continue to develop and improve over time
As a CHW, you are immersed in the communities you live and work in and have the cultural knowledge necessary to cultivate individual and community capacity and resiliency among the people and communities you serve.
- As you work with children and adults of all ages, challenge yourself to explore the root causes and systemic issues that may lead to adversity in your community.
- Identify organizations, agencies, and practices within your community that may address children and families’ comprehensive needs and enhance individual and community protective factors (e.g., financial and housing assistance, parenting classes, community mentoring programs).
- Adopt trauma-informed practices on an individual and organizational level
CHWs who have a strengths-based approach recognize experiences, skills, and knowledge as positive contributions and focus on building upon these strengths rather than just addressing deficits.
Strengths based approaches encourage people to learn about the perspectives and traditions of others while centering people as experts in their own experience and culture
Tips to build resilience:
- Embrace change
- Set realistic goals and take small steps to meet them
- View challenges as things that can be overcome
- Learn about yourself and support a positive self-perception
- Build community and connection
- Support all domains of wellness:
- Emotional:
- Nature social connections and spend time with loved ones
- Acknowledge our own successes and accomplishments
Spiritual
- Spiritual practices such as prayer/meditation
- Reach out to spiritual leaders
- Psychological:
- Speak to a trusted person and reach out for help when you need it
- Journal, draw or engage in something creative
Physical:
- Move your body in ways that feel good to you
- Prioritize sleep
- Practice breathing techniques
- Nurture your body through eating healthfully
- Spend time outdoors
Social Connectedness and Belonging
Humans are hardwired for close relationships and social connection has been identified as a protective factor in the experience of trauma and can help with emotional regulation and stress management.