Cdc's Four Level Social Ecological Model (SEM)

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ACEs are a social problem that interconnect and affect communities and families. The Social Ecological Model (SEM) considers the multifaceted interaction between various influences and has been used by the CDC to prevent child maltreatment. Child maltreatment includes several categories of ACEs and is an example of toxic stress. Therefore, the SEM prevention model would be appropriate for Washington County, as the prevention of ACEs requires understanding all the potential conditions and factors that cause them. The CDC uses a four level social ecological model to better understand potential strategies for prevention. The SEM studies the interchange between individual, relationship, community and societal elements (Middlebrooks & Audage, 2008). Individual Level Factors and Strategies Individual level elements include biological factors and personal experiences such as alcohol or drug use, social tendencies, income, education and history of impulsive behavior or violence. Interventions for individual-level influences are designed to affect individual social and cognitive skills, and include counseling and psychotherapy along with education and training ("Sexual Violence Prevention Fact Sheet | ATSA"). …show more content…

Family or relationship level factors influencing ACEs include domestic violence, the absence of a parent through divorce or separation, physical, sexual or emotional child abuse or emotional or physical neglect. Intervention at the relationship level is intended to enable individual behavior change by affecting social and cultural norms. Interventions for interpersonal relationship level influences could include family therapy and parenting training. Messages from peers, household members, providers and community workers are an important component in prevention work at the relationship

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