On Wednesday, February 23, Acting California Surgeon General, Dr. Devika Bhushan, testified before the Assembly Sub 1 Health and Human Services hearing on Ending Poverty in California.
Her testimony focused on the connections among Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) poverty, toxic stress, and overall health and well-being, while highlighting efforts that California is leading to address the ACEs and toxic stress.
These include the ACEs Aware Initiative, which has screened more than half a million Medi-Cal patients for ACEs and toxic stress to date, and the ACEs Equity Act, which expanded screening to private plans in 2022.