OPINION: Breaking the cycle of violence

There is no doubt that juveniles have been involved in violent crimes in Bernalillo County and that there need to be consequences. But, were they born violent? I think not. Data tells a disturbing story of family dysfunction and lack of community support. We need a more measured and thoughtful approach rather than “just lock them up.” The involved juveniles have experienced adversities, but tougher incarceration leads to the continuation of the cycle of violence. New Mexico is not using existing knowledge, adequate funding or human resources to break the cycle. For example, the political rhetoric from former mayoral candidate Darren White and gubernatorial candidate Sam Bregman misses the big picture.

In the l990s, researchers became interested in the occurrence of certain adult diseases related to adverse events in their childhoods. This interest spread to studies in children, Adverse Childhood Events (ACES). The scale of adversities (or traumas) varied from zero to 10. The adversities were things like: neglect, sexual/physical abuse, witnessing violence, substance abuse or mental illness in the household, having an incarcerated parent and death of a household member.

According to the National Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, New Mexico adults have a history of the greatest number of childhood adversities, averaging three, while the national average is only one adversity. Eighty percent80% of juveniles in the state admitted to state detention facilities have ACES of four or higher.

In a global review of more than 2,000 studies of women having four or more ACES, they were four times more likely to have depression, five times more likely to have alcohol abuse, and 10 times more likely to have drug abuse. Childhood trauma follows women, and men as well, into troubled times as adults. One in six kids who have had an incarcerated parent will be incarcerated themselves. A cycle is in place.

Keeping this data in mind, it is time to think of other approaches to addressing juvenile violence. The current rhetoric is not a balanced approach to violence prevention and will only fuel the cycle. Since locking kids up leads to adversity and keeps the cycle going, are we willing to continue watching this happen?

High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) is a structured program which has shown to break the cycle using community case managers helping families who are undergoing stress. Families volunteer for services and plan their goals. The case manager helps them access the services they identify but does not provide services. They work with the families to connect them to the community and help them revise their plan as they reach various goals.

Teachers in preschools, counselors in K-12, coaches, or community members can refer families for support when trauma occurs.

New Mexico has all the pieces to provide HFW. The New Mexico Human Services Department can expand the Medicaid Waiver, the Children, Youth and Families Department has some centers statewide who that already have trained case managers, New Mexico State University's Center of Excellence has trained community case managers and has training programs for social workers and other therapists who wish to increase skills in trauma treatment.

Another approach would be to begin treating adults with a history of trauma while in prison. There are validated treatment programs for women and men while in prison and as part of their parole plan. Approximately 50% of incarcerated adults in state prisons have minor age children, so an investment in treatment could help break the cycle as they continue parenting.

CYFD is stuck trying to pick up the pieces of New Mexico’s broken system. Addressing adversities early is possible. Policy makers and funders could sit down at the table and use data to break the cycle of violence and provide appropriate services from birth to adulthood.

Susanne Brown, MD, is a retired New Mexico pediatrician who has been interested in the outcomes of childhood trauma for many years.