Helping Hands hosts ‘Paper Tigers’ screening
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Helping Hands with Heart, in partnership with Mayo Regional Hospital, is hosting a free screening of the “Paper Tigers” documentary on Thursday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m. in the Sebec/Borestone Rooms. This film is the story of one year in the life of several high school students who have been affected by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This documentary is of interest to the general community including parents, educators, social service providers, clergy, law enforcement, etc.
More than two decades ago, two respected researchers, clinical physician Dr. Vincent Felitti and CDC epidemiologist Robert Anda, published the game-changing “Adverse Childhood Experiences Study.” It revealed a troubling but irrefutable phenomenon: the more traumatic experiences the respondents had as children (such as physical and emotional abuse and neglect), the more likely they were to develop health problems later in life — problems such as cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure. To complicate matters, there was also a troubling correlation between adverse childhood experiences and prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse, unprotected sex and poor diet.
Combined, the results of the study painted a staggering portrait of the price our children are paying for growing up in unsafe environments, all the while adding fuel to the fire of some of society’s greatest challenges — not the least of which is our current opiate addiction public health crisis.
However, this very same study contains the seed of hope: all of the above-mentioned risk factors — behavioral as well as physiological — can be offset by the presence of one dependable and caring adult. It doesn’t need to be the mother or the father, as “Paper Tigers” illustrates — but can be each one of us, in some small or large way, to make a difference in a child’s life.
A light snack will be provided. There is no charge for this screening; donations to support the local community work of Helping Hands with Heart are always accepted gratefully.