RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous effect on rates of future violence victimization and perpetration, as well as lifelong health and opportunity; and
WHEREAS, as such, early experiences are an important public health issue and much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs); and
WHEREAS, ACEs are measured by evaluating the relationship of health risk behavior and disease in adulthood to the breadth of exposure to childhood emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, and household dysfunction during childhood; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is charged with promoting and improving health by engaging residents, communities and partners in establishing and implementing policies and services that prioritize residents and communities with the greatest need; and
WHEREAS, CDPH has furthered this mission by completing a groundbreaking study on the effects of ACEs that will be the first of its kind focusing on Chicagoans; and
WHEREAS, giving adverse childhood experiences a scientific meaning and name, "ACEs," empowers victims who, according to CDPH Director of Violence Prevention and Behavioral Health Marlita White, "believed something was wrong with them because they could not put a name to what had happened to them;*" and
WHEREAS, in the television program 60 Minutes: Overtime Oprah Winfrey addressed childhood trauma stating that what has been life changing for her is the question, "What happened to you?" and not "What is wrong with you?"; and
WHEREAS, CDPH is an active member of the Illinois Childhood Trauma Coalition (ICTC), hosting five town hall meetings during the summer of 2017 that focused on five key areas surrounding youth health including improving homes, empowering working families, promoting vaccines, reducing obesity, and mitigating trauma; and
WHEREAS, CDPH established the Crisis Intervention Pilot Program, which linked residents experiencing mental health crisis in three police districts with mental health services, and provided funding to St. Bernard Hospital to help stabilize residents and link them to ongoing community-based services; and
WHEREAS, CDPH supports restorative practices and school-based training and activities that promote conflict resolution and relationship repair with students, faculty and parents; and
WHEREAS, CDPH's Childhood Exposure to Violence Prevention Week begins on the third Monday of April highlighting the impact that trauma has on our residents and the many organizations that have already begun training their staff and community members in the areas of Trauma 101, Mental Health First Aid and Psychological First Aid; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this eighteenth day of April 2018, recognize Childhood Exposure to Violence Prevention Week, commend the accomplishments of the Chicago Department of Public Health in the area of trauma prevention, and voice our support for its efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Chicago Department of Public Health.
