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Clayton County System of Care
School-Justice Partnership
In School, Out of Court &
Onto a Positive & Healthy Future
Our Mission
Our work is guided by our mission of promoting hope in children, families, and communities by providing excellence and accessibility to mental health solutions through our School-Justice Partnership (SJP), both on a local and national scale.
ABOUT US
Clayton County System of Care (SOC) was enacted in 2008 through our county's innovative trauma informed School-Justice Partnership (SJP). At SOC we are guided by our belief that the opportunity to live a healthy life should be equitable to every child regardless of race or zip code. Unfortunately, too often children’s health is at risk because they are exposed to traumatic Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs. ACEs are defined as abuse, neglect, or living in a home where there is parental substance abuse, incarceration, domestic violence, parental separation, divorce or illness (Burke-Harris, 2015). To prevent the detrimental impact of ACEs, we promote early intervention, enhance mental health and prevent long term consequences of ACEs locally and nationally.
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Children who experience high doses of ACEs are twice as likely to develop asthma.
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Children who experience high doses of ACEs are thirty-two more times likely to have learning and behavior problems that place them at risk of poor health outcomes.
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Additionally, as adults they are twice as likely to develop heart disease, stroke, cancer or chronic lung disease.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
We guide jurisdictions in establishing mental and behavioral health frameworks to deliver impactful trauma informed care. Together we promulgate best practices in building and sustaining trauma informed SJPs to provide early trauma intervention that promotes health and wellness by increasing academic achievement and reducing unnecessary juvenile court referrals that lead to adult incarceration.
Prevalence of ACEs among youth in the juvenile justice system:
90%
of youth in the juvenile justice system have reported exposure to at least one ACE.
97%
of offenders had experienced at least one ACE.
50%
reported 4 or more ACE exposures, which places them at further risk for significant negative health outcomes.
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