Lincoln Awarded $100,000 ACEs Aware Grant for Trauma-Informed PAINT Program from State Surgeon General’s Office

Lincoln has received $100,000 in grant funds from the California Surgeon General’s Office and the Department of Health Care Services to participate in the state’s ACEs Aware initiative. Lincoln has begun offering state-wide trainings and ongoing case-based learning workshops in PAINT: Psychotherapeutic Art Interventions for Navigating Trauma, an innovative mental health initiative that seeks to contribute to reducing the negative impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress.

PAINT’s developmentally flexible approach has been offered in counseling enriched classrooms, elementary, middle, and high schools in both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 2016. This mind-body approach, anchored in the science of relationship and expressions, is geared towards promoting resilience in the context of chronic and relentless stressors. In response to COVID-19, this art-based procedure has been adapted for Telehealth application. Developed and overseen by Francine Ostrem, Ph.D., LMFT, LPCC, Expressive Arts Therapy Specialization, PAINT is also a training program for advanced clinicians.

$14.3 million in ACEs Aware grants was awarded to 100 organizations throughout the state to extend the reach and impact of the California Surgeon General’s Initiative to cut Adverse Childhood Experiences and toxic stress in one generation. Funding will support activities to help Medi-Cal providers understand the importance of screening for ACEs and train them to respond with a trauma-informed care approach, which recognizes and integrates knowledge of trauma into treatment to promote the healing of youth, families, and communities. Grants have three areas of focus, including training, engagement, and outreach for providers and organizations that serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries.

Lincoln is a regional leader in developing and implementing a Trauma Informed Care approach in the provision of services and has promoted this work extensively within the field. “ACEs and toxic stress are a public health crisis. Research has shown that as the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk of long-term harmful and persistent physical and mental health challenges,” said Lincoln CEO Allison Staulcup Becwar. “We are thrilled to be playing a leadership role in implementing this important initiative and look forward to bringing together stakeholders of all levels to increase awareness about ACEs as well as the PAINT program as an effective trauma intervention.”

For more information about the trainings, please click here.

About ACEs Aware

Led by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California Surgeon General, and Dr. Karen Mark, Medical Director for DHCS, the ACEs Aware initiative offers Medi-Cal providers core training, screening tools, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children and adults for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are stressful or traumatic experiences people have by age 18 that were identified in the landmark ACE Study. ACEs describe 10 categories of adversities in three domains – abuse, neglect, and/or household dysfunction. ACEs are strongly associated with at least nine out of 10 of the leading causes of death in the United States. Part of Governor Gavin Newsom’s California for All initiative, the goal of ACEs Aware is to reduce ACEs and toxic stress by half in one generation. Follow ACEs Aware on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Office of the California Surgeon General

The role of California Surgeon General was created in 2019 by Governor Gavin Newsom to advise the Governor, serve as a leading spokesperson on public health matters, and drive solutions to the state’s most pressing public health challenges. As California’s first Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris has established early childhood, health equity, and ACEs and toxic stress as key priorities.

California Department of Health Care Services

DHCS is the backbone of California’s health care safety net, helping millions of low-income and disabled Californians each and every day. The mission of DHCS is to provide Californians with access to affordable, integrated, high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use treatment services, and long-term care. DHCS’ vision is to preserve and improve the overall health and well-being of all Californians. DHCS funds health care services for about 13 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries.