Brain science helps us understand how children’s brains develop in a healthy way and how toxic stress can interfere with that development.
The CDC-Kaiser ACE study in the 1990s and subsequent research has confirmed that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) potentially interfere with healthy brain development and are a crucial determinant of future well-being.
Conversely Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) strengthen resilience (successful development in the face of adversity).
Many children in families with family justice issues are experiencing more than one ACE, and in many situations, the traditional adversarial court process escalates conflict and exacerbates the impacts of ACEs.
Transforming the family justice system by focusing on family well-being means designing a system that reduces the unintentional harm done by the adversarial process and takes advantage of opportunities to strengthen resilience and support families.
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