The Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce Rooster Booster brought a full crowd to the Owensboro Convention Center. Thursday’s guest speaker was Dominic Cappello, a New York Times best-selling author, Oprah Winfrey guest and co-author of Anna, Age Eight.
Cappello addressed the business owners and Owensboro professionals at the breakfast, discussing what he called an epidemic affecting each in the room — childhood trauma.
“People who experience childhood trauma are put at a real disadvantage,” Cappello said. “Those kids go on to be unproductive workers for your businesses.”
Cappello said childhood trauma could be caused by growing up around physical and emotional neglect; physical, emotional and sexual abuse; substance abuse; mental health issues; domestic violence; divorce; or the incarceration of a parent.
His book, Anna, Age Eight, details the life of a young girl who was removed from her home eight times by social services, until the final time when she was returned to her mother, who kicked the child to death. Cappello said he thought he was writing a book about child abuse and social services, but it turned into researching cycles of adverse childhood experiences (ACE).
“The public and private sector have to address this issue,” Cappello said. “If we don’t do this work, the trauma continues.”
Cappello urged the crowd to not think about preventing childhood trauma, which can feel like a daunting, impossible task. Rather, he said, think of it as creating a family-friendly city.
Cappello recommended those interested in helping or contributing ideas for solutions contact Social Partners Advocating for a Resilient Kentucky, Owensboro, Daviess County (SPARKodc), which is already making great strides locally.
Cappello first learned of Owensboro through CASA Director Rosemary Conder, who read his book and felt compelled to reach out.
Cappello was intrigued by the strides a community the size of Owensboro was making in the areas of child abuse awareness and prevention and he accepted an invitation to visit.
Kentucky ranks second in the nation, only to New Mexico where Cappello resides, in child abuse and neglect. The only positive aspect to the elevated numbers, Conder says, is that “people are reporting it” so there is a better chance for an intervention.
During his visit in September 2018, Cappello helped guide and instruct integral community members, such as the mayor, police chief, school leadership and hospital staff on how their knowledge of adverse childhood experiences could make them resilient leaders.
After visiting Owensboro and working with leaders, Cappello made the town a U.S. pilot program in his adverse childhood experiences research. Mayor Tom Watson also gave Cappello a key to the city for his local work and dedication.
