Introduction
Leaven Kids is committed to serving the most vulnerable members of our community - children. Specifically, we focus on young students living in neighborhoods heavily impacted by crime, poverty, and high dropout rates among youth. We recognize the long-term effects a child’s environment can have on their health and well-being. In 1998, Kaiser Permanente published a ground-breaking study that captured the relationship between childhood abuse/household dysfunction and many of the leading causes of death in adults. Such research serves as the foundation of our work, fueling the love, patience, and understanding that we bring to the classroom. At Leaven Kids, we are more than just paper and pencils. We deliver a holistic approach to education, provide a safe space for children to learn and grow, and inspire hope for the future. We are proud to work alongside partners like Kaiser Permanente, who share in our belief that the investments we make today support healthy minds and bodies tomorrow.
Understanding ACEs and Their Effects
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and well-being. After collecting data from more than 17,000 participants, Kaiser found that as the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for negative health and well-being outcomes later in life. ACEs can include numerous traumatic events such as violence, neglect, abuse, and family mental health or substance abuse problems. ACEs are common. Almost two-thirds of participants reported at least one ACE and more than one in five reported three or more. The study showed that childhood trauma can be found in all populations, but that some children are more vulnerable due to their socio-economic environments. The impacts on health are profound. Adversity early in life has been shown to have lasting impacts on an adult’s mental health, maternal health, risk of injury, infectious and chronic disease, and alcohol and drug abuse.
Leaven Kids' Approach to Child Development
We recognize the adverse environments our students come from and, in response, bring a multi-faceted approach to our curriculum. For example, Leaven Kids has integrated social-emotional learning into our weekly programming and provides strategies to students who need help navigating their emotions. Social-emotional learning is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. In fact, research shows that social-emotional learning improves academic achievement by an average of 11%. We do this through interactive, research-based activities that support educational development and personal growth. Through consistent, long-term engagement, these programs make a meaningful difference in our students’ lives, with 40% reporting greater confidence and self-esteem, and 75% demonstrating new and healthy behavioral patterns. To support these efforts, our staff receives bi-annual training on ACE, giving them the tools and resources they need to support our students across our nearly two dozen learning centers. At Leaven Kids, we believe in nurturing the mind, body, and soul. This multi-faceted approach demonstrates our commitment to providing a positive and supportive environment for our students - a crucial first step to combating the effects of ACEs.
Educational Strategies for Healing
To counteract the effects of ACEs, Leaven Kids promotes resilience, educational development, and emotional well-being in all our programs. One example in the classroom is the use of feeling cards. Here, students are given a chart displaying various emotions such as happiness, sadness, confusion, anger, and more. Students are given time to reflect on their feelings and can point to whichever image best captures their emotions at the moment. This activity teaches children to be more thoughtful about their feelings and practice communicating those emotions in a healthy and productive way. Such activities also allow teachers to identify and engage with students who express negative feelings, which can influence their behavior in the classroom and their relationships with their peers. Another example is the use of positive thinking through personal affirmations. In class, students are given a list of positive affirmations and asked to read, reflect, and discuss which statements resonate most with them. They are then encouraged to write down the most powerful statements and revisit them throughout the day. Statements like, “I am enough,” “I am proud of myself,” and “I matter,” increase a student’s self-esteem and confidence. Such activities also promote mental resilience and positive thinking, both of which are crucial when counteracting the long-term effects of childhood trauma. These are just a few of the many programs, resources, and interventions designed to promote healing, learning, and emotional growth in our students.
Empowering Families and Communities
In addition, Leaven Kids recognizes that the family unit plays an important role when creating a safe and supportive environment for children at home. To support family empowerment, we provide caregivers with a county resource list for social services and readily refer parents or guardians with specific needs. Such efforts equip parents with the knowledge and resources needed to create positive environments at home. Our team also works closely with social services programs such as Broken By Violence, Solano Advocates for Victims of Violence, and Sexual Assault Response Teams. Through these partnerships, we can increase the availability and accessibility of in-community resources by bringing them into the apartment complexes where children live and play. Finally, Leaven Kids provides monthly family support groups, healing sessions, and mental health referrals, ensuring that our students and their families receive the community support needed to promote collective healing and resilience against ACEs.
Stories of Resilience and Success
These programs change lives. Just ask Tommy, a Leaven Kids student who was afraid to walk to school because of the drive-by shootings that took place in his neighborhood. “I had to stop going to school in-person for a while because being out of the apartment made me nervous,” Tommy said. “Even when the police come, it still feels scary and not so safe.” Tommy would spend most of his time at home, until a friend told him about Leaven Kids. One of the reasons why Leaven Kids is so effective is because it embeds learning centers right in the apartment complexes where children live and play, giving them unparalleled access to after-school resources and educational programming. Recognizing the value of such programs, Tommy’s mom encouraged him to go. “At Leaven Kids, I feel really safe and I have a lot of fun,” he added. “The Site Director and I play games and do art, and it helps me forget about the sad feelings. They’re like my extra family.” Our staff provides a safe and supportive environment for hundreds of students just like Tommy. With Leaven Kids, our students not only learn about math, science, and reading, but gain the socio-emotional skills needed to find success after adversity. Tommy’s resilience story showcases the transformative impact that Leaven Kids can have on a young child’s life, especially those who come from adverse backgrounds.
Conclusion
Research shows that childhood trauma can have lasting impacts on a child’s health and well-being. This sobering reality underscores the importance of early childhood intervention through programs like Leaven Kids, which equip students with the knowledge, resources, and healthy habits needed to combat the effects of ACEs. Through education, support, and community involvement, we can break the cycle and give our children renewed hope for the future. Every day our volunteers are making a difference - and you can too! Whether you are a student, working professional, or retiree, there are countless ways to get involved in our mission of positive childhood development. Submit your application here or learn more by visiting leavenkids.org/volunteer. For corporate partnership opportunities, email us at hello@leavenkids.org. For additional resources on ACE and the preventative measures for counteracting its effects, visit the CDC’s dedicated webpage here.
