1 page PHD application statement of purpose

Running head: UCLA APPLICATION 1

UCLA APPLICATION 2

UCLA Application

Student’s Name

Institutional Affiliation

UCLA Application

My name is [insert name], and I have been interested in UCLA for a considerable amount of time. The interest is triggered by personal experience and future dreams as well as the school's prowess. I have since concentrated my efforts towards joining UCLA especially since it will offer a reputable foundation in my area of interest. This includes trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the effect they have on human development. ACEs are incidences potentially leading to Trauma which occur anywhere between the first and eighteenth year during a child's development. Indeed, there has been a collective public understanding that consistent exposure to ACEs could lead to unfavorable social and health outcomes in children as much as it derails early childhood development. I, therefore, intend to devote my time and efforts towards the identification of treatment options.

It is pertinent to note that despite the public understanding, there is still little knowledge among the public of the adverse effects of ACEs. The lack of public information in this aspect has resulted to even more pronounced effects of the ACEs. The Centre for Disease Control in 2019, for example, revealed a nexus between ACEs and almost half of the leading causes of death in the country (Finkelhor et al., 2013). They also affirmed that there is a cyclical impact resulting from ACEs as these experiences are inherent within generations. Notably, their effects extend beyond family and community health to budgets of the state especially in cost-related spending on Child Welfare Programs, correctional facilities and systems as well as health care.

The current pandemic has shed light on the importance of ACEs since pre-existing stressors have been more pronounced. Additionally, the pandemic also offered breeding grounds for the creation of new stressors. Most States have since ensured that legislations on ACEs are made to the effect of protecting children's mental health and educational development. This affirms a positive inclination of the effects of the pandemic. Indeed, there have been concerted efforts by both State and Federal entities through the establishment of programs such as remote access to health facilities which have aided in the access to help among children affected by ACEs.

The extant childhood adversities identified as precursors to unfavorable social and health outcomes in children are limited, and there is a possibility that further studies, could shed light into more adversities. This will offer light into the determination of the treatment options to the health effects and control of exposure to the adversities in children. If offered an opportunity at UCLA, I intend to concentrate some effort and time towards the identification of adversities and the methods through which exposure to such adversities could be remediated. Additionally, I will also delve into the identification of available treatment options for the already extant ACEs such as economic conditions, violence and sexual abuse and the resultant health effects which arise.

References

Finkelhor, D., Shattuck, A., Turner, H., & Hamby, S. (2013). Improving the adverse childhood experiences study scale. JAMA pediatrics, 167(1), 70-75.https:// doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.420