W. Virginia: 52.4% of kids have adverse childhood experiences; "parent behaviors" cause harm

Feb 17, 2018, Buckhannon (WV) Inter—Mountain: Youth experiences make a difference http://www.theintermountain.com/opinion/columnists/2018/02/youth-experiences-make-a-difference/ In West Virginia, 52.4 percent of children under 18 had experienced ACE events in 2016, and 26 percet had two or more ACE events. In the USA 46.3 percent had one ACE event, and 21 percent had more than one ACE. … Unless we pay more attention to parent behaviors and the daily experiences of local youth, we will not be able to break family cycles that hold many West Virginians in poverty and despair. … Youth Health Services is another local agency that helps families find a firmer footing. YHS offers child care both during the day and after school, and mental health support services. Also the Randolph-Tucker Children’s Advocacy Center works with the legal system to protect the rights of children and help them heal after traumatic experiences.