Calaveras County

The 2024 Calaveras Health Equity Summit, held at The Golf Club at Copper Valley, was a resounding success, drawing a strong turnout of community members with over 100 guests from 30 organizations attending. Notable guests included Eugene Hamilton and the California Valley Miwok Tribal Council. One of the key themes of this year’s summit was equity, with discussions covering the history of health in Calaveras County, the impact of inequality on local youth, and resources that can help improve health equity in the region. 

A highlight of the summit was a presentation by Emily DeNigris and Eli Wellman, which focused on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the important role of the Calaveras Youth Advisory Board. This board, part of the Calaveras County Office of Education, provides a platform for historically underserved youth to share their experiences and opinions on issues like foster care, housing insecurity, mentoring, and education. "The intent and purpose of the Calaveras Youth Advisory Board is to give youth a voice in addressing the unique challenges they face, such as access to education, safe housing, and support services," said the presenters.   

ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, include a range of stressful or traumatic events that can negatively affect a child's development, leading to long-term impacts on health and well-being. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ACEs can include experiences like trauma, mental health challenges, risky behaviors, and lack of access to opportunities such as quality education and stable income. To mitigate the effects of ACEs, the presenters discussed Protective Factors, or solutions that can help buffer children from the harmful effects of trauma. These include fostering parental connectedness, ensuring school and neighborhood safety, and raising awareness of local health services. However, several of these protective solutions are underfunded in Calaveras County, including affordable childcare, pre-kindergarten programs, access to medical and mental health care, exposure to positive role models, and reliable transportation.  

In addition to the ACEs-focused presentation, other summit sessions included a deep dive into the history of Calaveras County, led by Emma Hampton and Zie Harman from the Calaveras Historical Society, and a session from Antoinette Del Rio and Anthony Wilson of the California Valley Miwok Tribal Council, offering unique perspectives on local history and its ongoing relevance to health equity.