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Today I am publishing our review of the Welsh Government’s policy on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). I requested the review to see the progress made in delivering the policy and how it was contributing towards this government’s goal of ensuring all children in Wales have the best start in life and the opportunity to achieve their potential. 


The review considered both the evidence which supported and questioned the continuing need for a central Welsh Government ACEs policy. It also investigated the extent to which ACEs had become embedded across wider Welsh Government policy. It was important to me that our stakeholders should be given the opportunity to contribute their views on how the Welsh Government’s ACEs policy should be developed in the future, including the role of the ACE Support Hub.


The publication of Public Health Wales’ study into ACEs in Wales in 2015 presented a strong case for the need for action on ACEs. Its findings informed the Welsh Government’s decision to prioritise action to tackle ACEs during this Senedd term. The study showed ACEs were widespread in Wales. It highlighted how those who had experienced multiple ACEs faced a far greater risk of experiencing poorer physical and mental health and living shorter, unhappier, unhealthier and less economically active and productive lives. However, it also showed how ACEs were far from inevitable or deterministic, could be prevented, including action by the government and how those who had already experienced ACEs could benefit from support.


The report I am publishing today brings together the main findings and conclusions from the review. These include clear evidence which demonstrates the strong association between ACEs and poorer outcomes and widespread support for government action on ACEs. The review found action on ACEs had become well embedded in Welsh Government policy and how the development and implementation of our ACEs policy had influenced some areas of UK government policy. It found there was strong continuing support amongst stakeholders for the ACE Support Hub. However, it also identified opposition to the ACEs agenda for a variety of reasons, which will need to be considered further in the development of any future ACEs policy.


I am grateful to everyone who took part in the review. Its findings support the continuing need for there to be a clear and consistent Welsh Government policy on ACEs and for further development to reflect what we found from the review. It presents a strong argument for a shift in focus from raising awareness and understanding of ACEs, towards effective help, informed by an understanding of the effects of trauma, which makes a positive difference to the lives of children and their families. There was also a call from stakeholders for better join\-up between services working to tackle childhood adversity.


Having considered the review’s findings, I have identified a set of principles which I would like to inform the development of our future ACEs policy and work to prevent ACEs. These are as follows:


* Adverse Childhood Experiences are not inevitable. Where possible, the focus of ACEs work should be on preventing childhood adversity from happening in the first place. However, we cannot ignore the need to provide sympathetic responses and trauma informed support to those who have already been impacted by ACEs or the importance of adopting a strengths based approach and building resilience.


* Our approach to raising awareness of childhood adversity should support parents and must avoid unintended consequences, like stigmatisation or increasing preventable statutory interventions. A narrow focus only on parental behaviours should also be avoided. Preventing adverse childhood experiences requires attention to the wider social and economic contexts of family life.


* We need to be careful in our use of the term ‘Adverse Childhood Experiences’ (ACEs), as well as the language we use to describe adversity, and be mindful of its impact. ACEs should never be viewed as being deterministic.


* The ‘ACE score’ should not be used with individuals to determine risk or whether or not to offer an intervention or the type of intervention which should be offered.


* Work on adverse childhood experiences should reflect that ACEs are more concentrated in deprived areas. It needs to recognise that poverty and multiple deprivation are causal factors in at least some of these adversities.


* We should recognise, support and promote the contribution that community\-based, self\-help and peer support approaches can make in preventing childhood adversity and mitigating its impact.


I have asked my officials to establish a task and finish group to take forward the findings of the review and bring forward proposals for the future development of the Welsh Government’s ACEs policy. I want the group to comprise external stakeholders and Welsh Government officials from a wide range of services and policy areas, with a shared interest in preventing childhood adversity and providing support for those who have experienced trauma. I would like the group’s work to be guided by the principles I have set out above. 


The review has highlighted the complex and inter\-related nature of ACEs childhood adversities. It was conducted during the coronavirus pandemic which was often at the forefront of stakeholders’ minds as they thought about the Welsh Government’s future ACEs policy. Evidence had already begun to emerge about the immediate impact which COVID\-19 was having, particularly on some of our more vulnerable individuals and communities. It is likely that COVID\-19 will have a much longer impact too and serve to exacerbate the difficulties and challenges which many children faced before the onset of the pandemic. I would, therefore, look to the task and finish group to consider how the Welsh Government’s future ACEs policy can contribute to the COVID recovery plan. Time is an important factor and so I have asked for the group to complete its work and report back to Welsh Ministers over the summer.







Translation:


 
Heddiw, rwy’n cyhoeddi ein hadolygiad o bolisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod (ACE). Gofynnais am yr adolygiad er mwyn cael gweld y cynnydd a wnaed o ran cyflwyno’r polisi, a sut mae’n cyfrannu at nod y llywodraeth o sicrhau bod holl blant Cymru yn cael y dechrau gorau posibl mewn bywyd a’r cyfle i gyrraedd eu potensial. Gellir gweld yr adolygiad yn: https://llyw.cymru/adolygiad\-or\-polisi\-ynghylch\-profiadau\-niweidiol\-yn\-ystod\-plentyndod\-adroddiad


Roedd yr adolygiad yn ystyried y dystiolaeth a oedd yn cefnogi ac yn cwestiynu’r angen parhaus am bolisi ACE canolog gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Hefyd ystyriwyd i ba raddau y mae ACE wedi cael eu hymgorffori ar draws polisi ehangach Llywodraeth Cymru. Roedd yn bwysig i mi bod ein rhanddeiliaid yn cael y cyfle i gyfrannu sylwadau ar sut y dylid datblygu polisi ACE Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol, gan gynnwys rôl y Ganolfan Cymorth ACE.


Cyflwynodd astudiaeth Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru i achosion o ACE yng Nghymru, a gyhoeddwyd yn 2015, achos cryf dros weithredu ym maes ACE. Llywiodd canfyddiadau’r astudiaeth hon benderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i flaenoriaethu camau gweithredu i fynd i’r afael ag ACE yn ystod tymor y Senedd hon. Dangosodd yr astudiaeth fod achosion o ACE yn eang yng Nghymru. Tynnodd sylw at y ffaith bod y rheini sydd wedi profi mwy nag un achos o ACE yn wynebu risg uwch o brofi iechyd corfforol a meddyliol gwael gan fyw bywyd anhapus byrrach, gwaelach, llai cynhyrchiol a llai gweithredol yn economaidd. Fodd bynnag, dangosodd hefyd sut yr oedd ACE ymhell o fod yn rhywbeth anochel neu'n rhywbeth sy’n eich diffinio, ac y gellid eu hatal, gan nodi gweithredu gan y llywodraeth a sut y gallai'r rhai a oedd eisoes wedi profi ACE elwa o gael cymorth.


Mae'r adroddiad rwyf yn ei gyhoeddi heddiw yn dwyn ynghyd prif ganfyddiadau a chasgliadau'r adolygiad. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys tystiolaeth glir sy'n dangos y cysylltiad cryf rhwng ACE a chanlyniadau gwaeth a chefnogaeth eang i weithredu gan y llywodraeth ar ACE. Canfu'r adolygiad fod gweithredu ar ACE wedi'i ymgorffori'n dda ym mholisi Llywodraeth Cymru, a nodwyd sut yr oedd datblygu a gweithredu ein polisi ACE wedi dylanwadu ar rai o feysydd polisi llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Dengys yr adroddiad gefnogaeth barhaus a chyf ymhlith rhanddeiliaid i'r Ganolfan Cymorth ACE. Fodd bynnag, cafwyd hefyd wrthwynebiad i’r agenda ACE am amryw o resymau y bydd angen eu hystyried ymhellach wrth ddatblygu unrhyw bolisi ACE yn y dyfodol.


Rwyf yn ddiolchgar i bawb a gymerodd ran yn yr adolygiad. Mae ei ganfyddiadau'n cefnogi'r angen parhaus i gael polisi clir a chyson gan Lywodraeth Cymru ar ACE a gwneud gwaith datblygu pellach i adlewyrchu'r hyn a ddaeth i’r amlwg yn yr adolygiad. Mae'n cyflwyno dadl gref dros newid y ffocws o godi ymwybyddiaeth a dealltwriaeth o ACE, tuag at gymorth effeithiol sydd wedi'i lywio gan ddealltwriaeth o effeithiau trawma, sy'n gwneud gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol i fywydau plant a'u teuluoedd. Mae’r rhanddeiliaid hefyd wedi gofyn am well cydweithio rhwng gwasanaethau wrth fynd i'r afael â phrofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod.


Ar ôl ystyried canfyddiadau'r adolygiad, rwyf wedi nodi cyfres o egwyddorion i lywio datblygiad ein polisi ACE yn y dyfodol a gweithio i atal ACE. Mae'r rhain fel a ganlyn:


* Nid yw Profiadau Niweidiol yn ystod Plentyndod yn anochel. Lle bo'n bosibl, dylai gwaith ACE ganolbwyntio ar atal profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod rhag digwydd yn y lle cyntaf. Fodd bynnag, ni allwn anwybyddu'r angen i ddarparu ymatebion cydymdeimladol a chymorth sy'n seiliedig ar drawma i'r rhai y mae ACE eisoes wedi effeithio arnynt na phwysigrwydd mabwysiadu dull sy'n seiliedig ar gryfderau ac adeiladu gwydnwch.
* Dylai ein dull o godi ymwybyddiaeth o brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod gefnogi rhieni a rhaid iddo osgoi canlyniadau anfwriadol, fel stigmateiddio neu gynyddu ymyriadau statudol diangen. Dylid hefyd osgoi ffocws cul ar ymddygiad rhieni yn unig. Mae atal profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod yn gofyn am roi sylw i gyd\-destunau cymdeithasol ac economaidd ehangach bywyd teuluol.
* Mae angen i ni fod yn ofalus wrth ddefnyddio'r term 'Profiadau Niweidiol yn ystod Plentyndod' (ACE), yn ogystal â'r iaith a ddefnyddiwn i ddisgrifio profiadau niweidiol, a bod yn ymwybodol o'u heffaith. Ni ddylid byth ystyried bod ACE yn rhywbeth sy’n diffinio bywyd.
* Ni ddylid defnyddio'r 'sgôr ACE' gydag unigolion i bennu risg, a ddylid cynnig ymyriad ai peidio neu'r math o ymyriad y dylid ei gynnig.
* Dylai gwaith ar brofiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod adlewyrchu’r ffaith bod ACE yn fwy dwys mewn ardaloedd difreintiedig. Mae angen cydnabod bod tlodi ac amddifadedd lluosog yn ffactorau achosol mewn rhai o'r hysbysebion hyn o leiaf.
* Dylem gydnabod, cefnogi a hyrwyddo'r cyfraniad y gall dulliau cymunedol, hunangymorth a chymorth cymheiriaid ei wneud i atal profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod a lliniaru eu heffaith.


Rwyf wedi gofyn i’m swyddogion sefydlu grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen i symud ymlaen â chanlyniadau’r adolygiad a chyflwyno cynigion ar gyfer datblygu polisi ACE Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol. Rwyf eisiau i’r grŵp gynnwys rhanddeiliaid allanol a swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru o ystod o wasanaethau a meysydd polisi, sy’n rhannu diddordeb mewn atal profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod a rhoi cymorth i’r rheini sydd wedi profi trawma. Hoffwn i waith y grŵp gael ei arwain gan yr egwyddorion a amlinellwyd gennyf uchod.


Mae'r adolygiad wedi tynnu sylw at natur gymhleth a rhyng\-gysylltiedig ACE a phrofiadau niweidiol plentyndod. Fe'i cynhaliwyd yn ystod pandemig y Coronafeirws, a oedd yn gyson ar feddwl rhanddeiliaid wrth iddynt feddwl am bolisi ACE Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol. Roedd tystiolaeth eisoes wedi dechrau dod i'r amlwg am yr effaith uniongyrchol yr oedd COVID\-19 yn ei chael, yn enwedig ar rai o'n unigolion a'n cymunedau mwy agored i niwed. Mae'n debygol y bydd COVID\-19 yn cael effaith lawer hirach hefyd ac yn gwaethygu'r anawsterau a'r profiadau niweidiol yr oedd llawer o blant yn eu hwynebu cyn dechrau'r pandemig. Felly, byddwn yn gofyn i’r grŵp gorchwyl a gorffen ystyried sut y gall polisi ACE Llywodraeth Cymru yn y dyfodol gyfrannu at gynllun adfer COVID\-19\. Mae amser yn ffactor pwysig ac felly rwyf wedi gofyn i'r grŵp gwblhau ei waith ac adrodd yn ôl i Weinidogion Cymru dros yr haf.