On Monday, July 29, Mayor Lester Miller and Macon Mental Health Matters (MMHM) will announce the results of the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) survey released earlier this summer. The announcement will be followed by a panel to discuss the results and talk about why this survey is vital to our community. The public is invited to take part in the conversation following the announcement.

The announcement begins at 10:00 a.m. at Macon City Hall (700 Poplar Street) and will be live streamed on www.Facebook.com/MaconMentalHealthMatters. The panel discussion will also take place at City Hall and will be live streamed.

“This panel will help us to examine the impact of adverse childhood experiences and why it is essential in creating equitable support systems that empower all children, regardless of their background, to achieve their fullest potential,” says MMHM Director Andrea Cooke.

Panelists include: Andrea Cooke [moderator], Hannah Cespesdes, Jill Vanderhoek,  and Christy Henry.

Adverse Childhood Experiences include a wide range of stressful or traumatic events that children may endure, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Extensive research has shown that these experiences can have profound and lasting effects on physical health, mental well-being, and socio-economic outcomes. Recognizing the critical need to address these issues, MMHM has developed a multi-faceted approach that encompasses education, intervention, and community support.

The ACEs online survey was released to our community on June 18, 2024. The survey was anonymous with the exception of collecting zip codes.