Child Welfare League Foundation 2021 Annual Report

It was always sad to see child abuse incidents on news. Besides the wounds on children’s bodies, these adverse childhood experiences would cause long term harm on these children’s physical and mental health, even after they turned into adults. Since Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States published the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, the impact trauma creates on physical and mental health has drawn public attention. The ACEs study collected information from over 17,000 adults between 1995 and 1997. Respondents were asked ten questions relating their childhood experiences such as whether they were physically or sexually abused. One adverse experience counted 1 point. Each person’s final scores would be cross analyzed with their medical records. The results showed that respondents with higher ACEs scores had higher chances of getting heart diseases, liver diseases, cancer and depression. They were also more likely to experience issues such as obesity, substance abuse, social and emotional disorders, suicidal tendency, etc. Given to the possibility of cultural differences, we wondered what the results might be if the study was conducted in Taiwan. Therefore, CWLF also conducted an adverse childhood experiences survey on high schoolers in Taiwan. Through this survey, we hoped to understand the prevalence and effects of ACEs in Taiwan, seek ways to respond to trauma and prevent re-traumatization.

In August, 2021, we opened our Family Mediation Services Center. The center integrates multidisciplinary professions (psychology, law and social work) and provides child-centered family mediation services. Social workers will guide divorcing parents to prioritize their children’s needs and understand that despite separation, co-parenting should not stop. Parents should work together to create their Child Care Plan for their children to have separated parents instead of single parents.

Bullying has been a common phenomenon on campus. When a child faces a bullying event, the adults may worry that if they point up the situation, it may create negative impact on the child or exacerbate the hurt the child already got, so they may first downplay the incident or give the child evasive advice. However, with this response, the child is not able to be empathized, accepted or protected, which may worsen the situation and affect the child’s physical or mental well-being. Telling the child “Just ignore them” is as if saying “I don’t think your hurt is important.” It is like an invisible fist punching heavily on the heart of the bullied child.

CWLF Won Silver and Most Innovative Awards in Wofoo Asian Award for Advancing Family Well-Being

It was our honor to be invited to publish an article on Child Welfare League of America's Child Welfare Journal concerning child abuse and neglect prevention in Taiwan.