Parents' adverse childhood experiences and mental health screening using home visiting programs: A pilot study

Abstract

Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with adult high-risk behaviors and diseases. There is value in screening parents for ACEs given the repercussions parental ACEs may have on parenting behaviors and child development. The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of parental ACE screening in the home setting. A secondary aim was to evaluate whether or not maternal ACEs correlated with maternal mental health measures. Methods Two home visiting programs that support early childhood development and conduct parental mental health screening implemented ACE screening for parents of infants < 1 year of age. Descriptive statistics were produced for population surveillance of ACEs as well as standard-practice screens for depression, anxiety, substance use, and intimate partner violence. Logistic models were used to examine associations between ACE score and mental health measures. Results A total of 110 parents completed the ACE screen. All possible ACE score outcomes were represented (0–10). A trend toward association of positive prenatal maternal depression screen with ACE score was identified (p=0.05). Conclusion This novel prospective home-based screening program for parental ACEs was feasible and identified a trend toward increasing ACE score association with positive prenatal maternal depression screen.

How adverse childhood experiences relate to single and multiple health risk behaviours in German public university students: a cross-sectional analysis

“…), and (3) define standardised screening tools. Only then will routine screenings in different German settings – such as medical settings [ 89 – 91 ], schools [ 92 ], home visiting programmes [ 93 ], or even prisons [ 94 ] – be feasible to implement, and serve the public interest.…”

Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences: Literature Review and Practice Implications

“…22 Home screening acceptability offers an additional ACE screening platform for young families. 23 Johnson et al 23 proposed early intervention and linkage to resources are critical for young families given the importance of parent-child relationships and child development.…”

“…Completion of the ACE screens can be performed in a variety of settings including during a home visit, before or during an office visit, and even individually within group settings. 16,21,23,24 Nguyen et al 27 specifically studied pregnant patients' preferred location for completing ACE screening. Women's willingness to complete ACE screening in office waiting rooms, private examination rooms, inpatient rooms, or a group visit space were compared.…”

Trauma informed public health nursing visits to parents and children

“…Studies have endorsed the feasibility of ACEs screening during pregnancy (Flanagan et al, ), in the pediatric clinic setting (Gillespie & Folger, ) and in home visits delivered by nurses or social workers to parents of infants (Johnson et al, ). While nurses and pediatricians have been cited as particularly suited to this sensitive inquiry of childhood trauma (Dube, ), ACEs screening by paraprofessionals has also shown promise in terms of the culturally sensitive delivery of interventions in a cost‐effective manner (Rotheram‐Fuller et al, ).…”