Thank you, Dr. Burke-Harris
Dear Dr. Nadine Burke-Harris,
Since Wilderness Youth Project began back in 1999, we’ve seen firsthand the importance of connecting children with experiences that support health and happiness. Over the years, we’ve found many other community members and leaders who worked tirelessly to make sure that kids get what they need.
When you took the national stage, elucidating the serious consequences of toxic stress, we realized we were entering a new chapter in the public’s understanding of just how important it is to invest in children.
We cheered you on as you became California’s first Surgeon General in 2019, and watched on as you rapidly led the implementation of policies and practices throughout the state. You championed the cause of addressing toxic stress, teaching us to understand that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) result in chronic diseases—such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes —that are the most common causes of death and disability in the United States.
On your last day as Surgeon General, we wanted to send deep gratitude to you and honor you for the major contributions you have made to the health of current and future generations.
You have changed the conversation. Your work has touched us at Wilderness Youth Project and so many families and the vast network of providers who support them. Thank you for all you have done, for all you will continue to do, and for “walking your talk” as you remind us all that “self care isn’t selfish.”
In deep gratitude,
Wilderness Youth Project
Santa Barbara, California
February 2022
You can learn more…
- CDC: Adverse Childhood Experiences
- About the CDC-Kaiser ACE Study
- Office of the Surgeon General: ACEs and Toxic Stress
- Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General’s Report on ACEs, Toxic Stress, and Health
- Cottage Pediatric Resiliency Collaborative
- The ACEs Aware Initiative: screen patients for ACEs