Entry Category
Single Entry – Collateral Materials in a social marketing program
Name of Intervention/ Program
CalMHSA ACEs Priority Populations Toolkits
Background and Situation Analysis
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been shown to have long-term detrimental effects on mental and physical health, particularly in communities that face systemic barriers to equitable healthcare and mental health resources. Childhood trauma, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, increases the risk of chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and substance use later in life. In California, communities that experience cultural stigma surrounding mental health, limited access to culturally competent providers, and distrust in healthcare systems are disproportionately affected by ACEs. The California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA) partnered with Civilian to develop a targeted, community-driven approach to mitigating the impact of ACEs. The initiative aimed to address these challenges by creating culturally relevant toolkits specifically designed for three populations in California: Black/African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), and Hispanic/Latinx communities. These groups were chosen due to their heightened exposure to ACEs and the structural inequities that limit access to resources, mental health services, and support networks. Traditional mental health outreach and interventions have often failed to resonate with these communities due to linguistic barriers, a lack of representation in materials and service providers, and the exclusion of lived experiences in resource development. As a result, there has been an ongoing need for materials that do not just inform but also empower individuals, families, and communities to engage with mental health services and recognize the importance of early intervention. The ACEs toolkits were created to bridge these gaps by ensuring the resources were culturally representative, accessible, and actionable. By involving community members in the development process, CalMHSA ensured the toolkits were not just about ACEs but also about fostering trust, building resilience, and empowering communities to take control of their mental well-being.
Priority Audiences(s)
Black/African American communities: Many individuals and families navigate complex relationships with healthcare shaped by history, personal experiences, and systemic inequities. The toolkit reflects cultural strength and resilience while offering pathways to affirming care and community-driven resources. AAPI communities: Encompassing diverse languages, traditions, and perspectives, this toolkit honors varied experiences, recognizing familial and intergenerational dynamics. It provides culturally relevant tools to foster mental health conversations. Hispanic/Latinx communities: Mental health is deeply tied to family, community, and cultural identity. This bilingual toolkit fosters discussions, reduces stigma, and supports access to services that reflect lived experiences and values.
Behavioral Objectives
By tailoring toolkits to Black/African American, AAPI and Hispanic/Latinx communities, this initiative aimed to shift behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge related to ACEs. Objectives focused on awareness, early intervention, stigma reduction, trust-building, and access to support. – Increase Awareness: Strengthen understanding of ACEs and their impact. Through culturally relevant messaging, toolkits help individuals recognize trauma signs and the importance of mental well-being. – Promote Early Intervention: Equip caregivers, educators, and community leaders with steps to identify and respond to ACEs, preventing long-term harm. – Reduce Stigma: Challenge misconceptions by integrating language, narratives, and examples that make mental health discussions feel natural and accessible. -Enhance Trust in Resources: Establish credibility by developing materials with direct community input, fostering connection and trust. – Facilitate Access to Support: Provide clear information on seeking mental health services, including local organizations, culturally competent therapists, and peer support networks. By meeting communities where they are and reflecting their experiences and values, the toolkits encourage a proactive, supportive approach to addressing childhood adversity.
Description of Strategy/Intervention
CalMHSA and Civilian employed a co-creation model to develop the ACEs toolkits, ensuring that each resource was culturally relevant, community-informed, and actionable. The strategy was deeply rooted in engagement, representation, and accessibility to ensure that Black/African American, AAPI, and Hispanic/Latinx communities saw themselves reflected in the materials. 1. Community-Centered Development A foundational aspect of the strategy was direct collaboration with community members, mental health experts, and cultural liaisons to shape the toolkits. This was done through: – Statewide Focus Groups: Each toolkit was informed by focus groups with community members, mental health professionals, caregivers, and individuals with lived experiences. These discussions helped uncover cultural nuances, barriers to mental health access, and preferred messaging styles. – Licensed Clinical Moderators: To ensure the information was both clinically sound and emotionally safe, experts guided discussions and refined toolkit content. – Cultural Authenticity Review: Community leaders and stakeholders reviewed the materials at multiple stages to ensure the messaging resonated and was free of stigmatizing language or external assumptions. – Iterative Feedback Loops: The materials went through multiple rounds of feedback to refine tone, terminology, and accessibility, ensuring that the final product was “by the community, for the community.” 2. Culturally Responsive Content Design Each toolkit included three key components, tailored to support stress management, self-reflection, and healing: Introductory Booklet: This resource educated individuals on what ACEs are, how they impact mental health, and pathways to healing. It positioned healing as a personal and communal journey, emphasizing that individuals are more than their past experiences. For Black/African American, AAPI, and Hispanic/Latinx communities, this meant recognizing cultural values, traditions, and the significance of intergenerational support in fostering resilience. Healing Habits Cards: Designed as practical, bite-sized strategies, these cards provided culturally relevant self-care and resilience-building habits. Examples included: – Engaging with traditional foods, music, and cultural rituals as grounding techniques. – Encouraging intergenerational conversations and support within families. – Recognizing the role of spirituality, faith, and community gathering spaces as protective factors. Action Plan Worksheets: These interactive tools encouraged individuals to reflect on their stress triggers, emotional responses, and personal strengths while providing guidance on managing stress proactively. The toolkit messaging focused on empowerment and healing, rather than deficit-based narratives, ensuring that communities saw mental health as a strength rather than a stigma. By taking a community-driven, iterative approach, CalMHSA and Civilian ensured that the ACEs toolkits were not only informative but also resonant, empowering, and culturally affirming for the people they were meant to serve.n
Implementation
The implementation of the ACEs toolkits was designed to ensure equitable access, meaningful engagement, and long-term sustainability within the Black/African American, AAPI, and Hispanic/Latinx communities. This approach involved a two-phase rollout that prioritized community trust, digital and in-person accessibility, and integration into existing mental health support systems. Phase 1: Community Engagement & Toolkit Development Collaborative Content Creation: The development process was guided by community input, ensuring that each toolkit reflected the cultural identities, values, and lived experiences of the priority populations. Mental health professionals, cultural liaisons, and individuals with lived experience of ACEs participated in refining content, tone, and messaging to ensure accuracy and effectiveness. Multiple iterations of the materials were tested and refined through focus groups, advisory committees, and expert feedback, improving accuracy, relatability, and usability. Culturally Aligned Messaging: The toolkits emphasized healing and resilience, rather than framing ACEs solely as a risk factor. Language, imagery, and storytelling approaches were selected to reduce stigma and normalize conversations about mental health within each community. Materials were translated–and further transcreated–into Spanish, with imagery and translated messaging vetted by Spanish-speaking advisors. By addressing mental health through the lens of cultural strengths—such as the resilience and faith-based traditions within Black/African American communities, familial and intergenerational bonds in AAPI communities, and strong community ties in Hispanic/Latinx families—the toolkits made engagement with mental health resources feel more natural and affirming. Phase 2: Digital and Print Accessibility The toolkits were distributed in both digital and print formats, ensuring that individuals could access resources in their preferred medium. The toolkits are available at Toolkits – Take Action for Mental Health (https://takeaction4mh.com/toolkits/), a centralized online hub established by CalMHSA to house all toolkit materials, enabling easy downloads, sharing, and self-guided use. Social marketing efforts directed individuals and organizations to the Take Action for Mental Health website, where toolkits were readily available for community leaders, educators, and individuals seeking guidance.
Evaluation Methods and Results
The ACEs toolkits provide counties, community organizations, and individuals with culturally responsive, accessible, and actionable resources to address the long-term effects of childhood trauma. By prioritizing representation and inclusivity, these toolkits serve as a foundation for increasing awareness, reducing stigma, and strengthening community-led mental health efforts. What These Toolkits Provide – Building Trust in Mental Health Resources: By offering culturally affirming content, the toolkits help communities engage with mental health resources in ways that feel safe, familiar, and relevant. – Empowering Families and Caregivers: These toolkits equip families, caregivers, and educators with knowledge and practical tools to recognize the impact of ACEs and foster healing conversations at home and in their communities. – Supporting Local Mental Health Efforts: Counties and organizations can use these toolkits as an essential part of their outreach and intervention programs, providing structured guidance for mental health workshops, peer discussions, and support groups. – Enhancing Long-Term Engagement: Designed for ongoing use, these toolkits ensure that ACEs education and mental health awareness remain integrated into community programming beyond their initial distribution. By providing actionable steps, relatable content, and culturally grounded strategies, the ACEs toolkits empower counties and community partners to strengthen mental health awareness, encourage early intervention, and support long-term resilience among populations historically underserved in mental health care.
Entry Letter: E