When the McKenzie Patrice Croom Water Lab opens this spring, the benefits will be just what many local youth need. The new lab will be set up to test community members’ water for lead at no cost to residents of Genesee County.
But that is not the end of its benefits.
The Flint Water Crisis has proved to be traumatic to the residence of Flint, MI, especially for a group of children that will never be able to enjoy the cold refreshing water that comes from a water hose while they enjoy playing outside with their friends.
These youth have been classified to traumatized and many suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome like soldiers returning from war zones. Based off research youth programs such as the community water lab which will be housed at the Flint Development Center at 4121 Martin Luther King Ave, have components to help lessen the effects of trauma.
The grand Opening for the lab is 1PM March 25, 2020.
What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences
The Center for Disease Control warns that untreated adverse childhood experiences such as the Flint Water Crisis can potentially have lingering affects on Flint Youth. Studies have deemed that there are direct correlations between the trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences and chronic illness.
Other governmental agencies that advocate to prioritize addressing adverse childhood experiences as well. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration , the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services and the Administration on Children and Families are just a few governmental agencies that are in agreement with the importance of addressing childhood trauma.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration adverse childhood experiences are stressful or traumatic experiences that youth encounter. These experiences lead to disruption in the neuro-development of youth.
Unfortunately, ACEs have become common. Many youths have been traumatized by more than the Flint Water Crisis. Other examples of ACEs are abuse, neglect, witnessing violence, having a parent incarcerated and growing up in poverty.
Local socioeconomic conditions increase the likelihood of exposure to ACEs. Flint has a poverty rate higher than the national and state averages. Impoverished youth are more likely to experience adverse childhood experiences.
Effects of ACEs
If they go unresolved adverse childhood experiences can also lead to health issues. Studies have deemed that there is a direct correlation between the trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences and chronic illness. According to the Bright Futures Guidelines there should be more of a focus on childhood trauma.
Addressing ACEs early is important since exposure to them increase the possibility of youth engaging in risky behaviors. Delinquent youth report high rates of childhood adversity. Youth with increased exposure to ACEs become sexually involved at earlier ages and are more prone to become underage drinkers. Without building resiliency these youth are in danger of suffering emotionally and physically from ACEs.
Mitigating the Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Resilience is how an individual responds to risk factors. Resilience can be encouraged by the introduction of coping mechanisms. Coping mechanisms can act as buffers for those that have already been exposed to traumatic experiences.
According to the CDC connecting youth with caring adults is beneficial in mitigating the effects of ACEs. Youth that encounter adverse childhood experience are less likely to live in a safe protective and supportive neighborhood. The lack of social resources can make youth more vulnerable to the experiences they encounter.
Resiliency allows individuals to develop social competence as well as problem solving skills. Other research has shown that after school programs encourage resiliency in youth and promote social competence as well as improved academic performances.
As youth become older it is increasingly harder to get them to consistently attend after school programs. Because of this after school programs need to be challenging with well-trained caring adult facilitators. Youth have confirmed that higher quality experiences in structured after-school programs result in greater engagement than less structured activities after school.
Moving Pass Trauma with the McKenzie Patrice Croom Water Lab
Youth at the McKenzie Patrice Croom Water Lab will work alongside a chemist and lab tech to learn the process of testing water at a molecular level. After school programs that include career preparation have been recognized as the most engaging to high school aged participants. While working in the lab youth will learn about stem careers that they did not know about previously. These youth will also learn about laws and policies as they are being prepared to be the advocates of the future. In a sense the lab will help treat youth already exposed to trauma and protect future youth from being exposed.