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There have been lots of critiques of adverse childhood experiences ( #ACEs) approaches recently, so @PeopleValues and I have put together a thread of those we have found most useful
There are plenty of promotional materials and dedicated websites available on #ACEs too - found easily using a quick search on Twitter or Google - but critiques are not promoted as much and come from a variety of sources, so they can be more difficult to find
Please note that questioning or cautioning against particular aspects of the #ACEs movement doesn't mean we don't think it is important - generally we might just disagree on the most effective things to do and the evidence for them
(It's a bit like climate change - we all agree it needs sorting, but there are valid debates about what will work, what to focus on, whether individual-level things will make any real difference without societal changes, etc.)
If you cannot immediately access an article (especially academic ones) you can get in touch with the author and ask for a copy. Academics are usually perfectly happy to do this.
First, some blogs and articles discussing general concerns and cautions around #ACEs:
1. 'Good intentions but the right approach? The case of ACEs'
Blog by me (*blows own trumpet*)
http://publichealthy.co.uk/good-intentions-but-the-right-approach-the-case-of-aces/
Blog by me (*blows own trumpet*)
http://publichealthy.co.uk/good-intentions-but-the-right-approach-the-case-of-aces/
2. 'Why I worry about the ACE-aware movement’s impact'
Article by Whitney Barratt https://www.tes.com/news/why-i-worry-about-ace-aware-movements-impact
Article by Whitney Barratt https://www.tes.com/news/why-i-worry-about-ace-aware-movements-impact
3. 'The ACEs campaign: cause for worry or celebration?'
Article by @PeopleValues https://www.tes.com/news/aces-campaign-cause-worry-or-celebration
Article by @PeopleValues https://www.tes.com/news/aces-campaign-cause-worry-or-celebration
4. 'Stop using the Adverse Childhood Experiences checklist to make claims about trauma causing physical and mental health problems'
Blog by @CoyneoftheRealm https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/11/15/stop-using-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-checklist-to-make-claims-about-trauma-causing-physical-and-mental-health-problems/
Blog by @CoyneoftheRealm https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/11/15/stop-using-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-checklist-to-make-claims-about-trauma-causing-physical-and-mental-health-problems/
5. 'ACEs: Light bulb moment or magic bullet for social ills in Scotland?'
Article by @chrismarshll https://www.scotsman.com/news/aces-light-bulb-moment-or-magic-bullet-for-social-ills-in-scotland-1-4870913
Article by @chrismarshll https://www.scotsman.com/news/aces-light-bulb-moment-or-magic-bullet-for-social-ills-in-scotland-1-4870913
6. 'Why you need to remain critical of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)'
Blog by @Jessicae13Eaton https://victimfocus.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/why-you-need-to-remain-critical-of-aces-adverse-childhood-experiences/
Blog by @Jessicae13Eaton https://victimfocus.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/why-you-need-to-remain-critical-of-aces-adverse-childhood-experiences/
7. 'Making Scotland an ACE informed nation'
Various blogs collated by @emz_davidson for @CRFRtweets (incl. @ArianeCritchley @LynnMcNair @DrAmyChandler @RamonaAlaggia @ResiliencebyD with more on the way)
https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/CRFRresilience/category/blog/
Various blogs collated by @emz_davidson for @CRFRtweets (incl. @ArianeCritchley @LynnMcNair @DrAmyChandler @RamonaAlaggia @ResiliencebyD with more on the way)
https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/CRFRresilience/category/blog/
8. 'Rethinking Adverse Childhood Experiences'
Academic bulletin by @sarahanderson26 for @TheHowardLeague
https://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ECAN-bulletin-Spring-2019.pdf
Academic bulletin by @sarahanderson26 for @TheHowardLeague
https://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ECAN-bulletin-Spring-2019.pdf
9. ACEs Position Paper
Policy position paper including critique from @childcomwales
https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ACEs-Position-Paper-CCFW-Sally-Holland.pdf
Policy position paper including critique from @childcomwales
https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ACEs-Position-Paper-CCFW-Sally-Holland.pdf
10. On the issue of consent:
'The ACE Movement Must Address the Issue of Consent'
Blog by @DrBruceScott
http://www.scottishreview.net/BruceScott475a.html
'The ACE Movement Must Address the Issue of Consent'
Blog by @DrBruceScott
http://www.scottishreview.net/BruceScott475a.html
Second, some academic general critiques:
11. 'The problem with ACEs'
Submission to @CommonsSTC inquiry by @RosEdwards2, @ValGillies, @janmacvarish, @ProfSueWhite, @ProfDaveWastell
https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/parentingculturestudies/files/2018/01/The-Problem-with-ACEs-EY10039-Edwards-et-al.-2017-1.pdf
Submission to @CommonsSTC inquiry by @RosEdwards2, @ValGillies, @janmacvarish, @ProfSueWhite, @ProfDaveWastell
https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/parentingculturestudies/files/2018/01/The-Problem-with-ACEs-EY10039-Edwards-et-al.-2017-1.pdf
12. The @CommonsSTC report itself, which on #ACEs concluded that "the simplicity of this framework and the non-deterministic impact of ACEs mean that it should not be used to guide the support offered to specific individuals"
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmsctech/506/506.pdf
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmsctech/506/506.pdf
13. 'A Critique of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Framework in Epidemiology and Public Health: Uses and Misuses'
Academic paper by @shell_ki https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/critique-of-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-framework-in-epidemiology-and-public-health-uses-and-misuses/9D5EFAD918AAA52C947AD28C2CBA46EC
Academic paper by @shell_ki https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/social-policy-and-society/article/critique-of-the-adverse-childhood-experiences-framework-in-epidemiology-and-public-health-uses-and-misuses/9D5EFAD918AAA52C947AD28C2CBA46EC
14. 'A Critical Assessment of the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study at 20 Years'
Academic paper by McEwan and Gregerson from @BowdoinCollege https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)32358-4/abstract
Academic paper by McEwan and Gregerson from @BowdoinCollege https://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(18)32358-4/abstract
15. 'Trauma informed practice and ACES: Critical perspectives on children’s mental health and domestic abuse'
Recorded conference talk by @JaneEMCallaghan (paper apparently under review)
https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/hub/publication/910297
Recorded conference talk by @JaneEMCallaghan (paper apparently under review)
https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/hub/publication/910297
16. 'Inclusion, Empathy and Social Justice: An Affirmative Model'
Recorded lecture by @inde_for_inde
Recorded lecture by @inde_for_inde
Third, some academic critiques specifically on ACE screening/routine enquiry - especially the lack of evidence and potential for harm:
17. 'Screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Cautions and suggestions'
Academic paper by @DavidFinkelhor
http://unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV350-InPress.pdf
Academic paper by @DavidFinkelhor
http://unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV350-InPress.pdf
18. 'The evidence base for routine enquiry into adverse childhood experiences: A scoping review'
Academic paper by @Katharineford, @keh444, @Hardcastle_KA, @AlishaDavies1, @lisa_dil, @markabellis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30884399
Academic paper by @Katharineford, @keh444, @Hardcastle_KA, @AlishaDavies1, @lisa_dil, @markabellis
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30884399
Finally, some pieces on ACEs primarily being a symptom of underlying socioeconomic conditions:
19. 'Adverse childhood experiences or adverse childhood socioeconomic conditions?'
Academic paper by Taylor-Robinson et al. from @LivUniIPHS https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30094-X/fulltext
Academic paper by Taylor-Robinson et al. from @LivUniIPHS https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(18)30094-X/fulltext
20. 'Poverty and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)'
Blog by @moragtreanor https://www.children1st.org.uk/blog/poverty-and-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces/
Blog by @moragtreanor https://www.children1st.org.uk/blog/poverty-and-adverse-childhood-experiences-aces/
21. 'Capability and adversity: reframing the “causes of the causes” for mental health'
Academic paper by @psysmith https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-018-0066-z
Academic paper by @psysmith https://www.nature.com/articles/s41599-018-0066-z
22. (Not yet available but one to watch out for - @theGCPH has a systematic review in press, 'To what extent are adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) explained by childhood socioeconomic conditions?)
There are more critiques out there, but we hope this collection will help to form balanced and critical judgements of the ACEs approach, taking account of the potential pitfalls and avoiding rushing ahead of the evidence base. Thanks for reading. RTs appreciated.
Seems an appropriate and conclusive way to tie up this thread on #ACEs critiques:
https://twitter.com/PeopleValues/status/1246731587854700546?s=19
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https://twitter.com/PeopleValues/status/1246731587854700546?s=19
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