Pediatrics and Early Childhood Development

At Marin Community Clinics our pediatricians and behavioral health teams work together to foster healthy development and support families where they are.

Marin Community Clinics provides health care to over 12,000 children from birth to age 18. We know that immunizations, preventive care and dental check-ups are vital for children. We also know that what a child experiences in everyday life has a tremendous impact on their well-being and contributes to – or detracts from – good health in adulthood.

Research shows that Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such physical and emotional abuse, neglect, caregiver mental illness, violence, and other trauma, may lead to problems later in life. The more ACEs a child experiences, the more likely they will suffer from chronic disease and substance abuse as adults. Why does this happen? Enduring multiple adverse childhood experiences can cause toxic stress that disrupts the immune, endocrine, and neurological systems and can create multiple ill effects over time.

Not everyone exposed to ACEs experiences long-term effects. Intervention can increase the chance that a child will become a healthy, resilient adult despite ACEs. Supportive relationships between children and their caregivers can prevent or reverse effects of toxic stress and help children build core life skills.

Our pediatricians have found that many of our young patients have experienced multiple ACEs, so Marin Community Clinics focused on building resilience in these children and their families. We have become a leader in California for addressing ACEs in pediatric patients, thanks to the support of grant funding and individual contributions.