Gov. John Carney issued an executive order this week to make Delaware a more trauma-informed state.
It’s Delaware’s part in a national effort responding to studies showing people with Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are more likely to have negative life outcomes.
Carney’s order places the newly-formed Family Services Cabinet Council in charge of rolling out trauma-informed policies.
Secretary of Department of Services for Children Youth and their Families Josette Manning is on the council.
“When we’re talking about things like the crime rate, or opioid addiction, or anything, homelessness, anything that is plaguing our communities, you can almost always tie them back to trauma,” said Manning.
Carney’s executive order points to a recent study by the CDC showing the average lifetime cost to victims of childhood abuse and neglect to be upwards from $200,000.
Among other things, the order requires the council to identify gaps in services available for people with ACEs.
Manning says one gap exists in interagency communication and another in the scope of services available.
“There are many, many people who are providing services—whether its state agencies, nonprofits, private companies—they’re all providing great services, we just don’t necessarily have a catalog of what those services are and where to get them,” said Manning.
Manning adds one of the council’s goals is to develop a centralized website listing private and public resources for people who’ve experienced trauma.
Carney’s executive order also requires the council to collect data on ACEs in Delaware, set up a trauma-informed training program for employees at all state agencies and promote April as Delaware’s Trauma Awareness Month.