First Responders are Change Agents for Health

Local nonprofits have teamed up with the Concord Police Department to support children and families facing difficult experiences.

Because of increased education and awareness regarding the potential long-term impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Concord Police Department recognized that first responder were in a position to identify children and families who have potentially experienced trauma and may benefit from additional support.

Concord Police Department reviewed their call database and identified that officers responded to at least 250 incidents, such as calls related to domestic violence and substance misuse, where at least one child was present in the past year.

The term Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), describes a potentially traumatic event that occurs in childhood, such as experiencing and/or witnessing violence, abuse, and neglect, as well as aspects of a child’s environment that may disrupt their sense of safety, stability, and bonding.

A large body of evidence indicates ACEs can have negative, lasting effects on health, wellbeing, and opportunity. Research also indicates that there are many factors that help children mitigate the impacts of trauma, build resilience, and strategies that communities can employ to prevent ACEs and their associated harms. 

Concord community stakeholders were galvanized to support families by replicating the nationally recognized Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team (ACERT) model developed and implemented in Manchester, NH.

In October of 2019, The Concord Police Department, Merrimack County Child Advocacy Center, and Riverbend Community Mental Health formed the Concord ACERT, which reaches out to families who have had recent contact with Concord Police Department to offer support in connecting with community agencies that can help decrease the negative impacts of stressful situations through connections to safe, stable and supportive adults, and community services. 

For more information about ACERT please contact Sam Nolin, Granite United Way's Director of Public Health, at Sam.Nolin@graniteuw.org.