Kaitlyn Marisa Warfield is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Kentucky and a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky. She currently works as an Outpatient Behavioral Health Therapist in Hazard, KY, at the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) Behavioral Health clinic. In her free time, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her husband, Jacob, attending church, and playing music. She is passionate about helping community members who struggle with mental health disorders. Her doctoral research focuses on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in rural Appalachian communities and how these experiences have been passed down through generations via learned behaviors and cultural acceptance. Rural Appalachian communities have long faced challenges stemming from untreated ACEs and a shortage of adequately trained professionals to provide proper interventions. Kaitlyn’s research will not only highlight this critical gap in the literature but also provide insights to educate and prepare future social workers to deliver culturally aware and trauma-informed interventions for rural Appalachians impacted by generational ACEs.
DSW Showcase Student Presentation
Kaitlyn Warfield
LCSW, DSW Candidate
Adverse Childhood Experiences in Rural Appalachia
Concentration - Administrative Leadership
- Wednesday, April 30, 2025 -
- 2:30 pm
Abstract
This presentation focuses on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in rural Appalachian communities and how these experiences have been passed down through generations via learned behaviors and cultural acceptance. The presentation includes a systematic literature review that discusses the prevalence of ACEs in rural communities and the impact of ACEs on social issues; a conceptual paper that discusses how ACEs have become generational and culturally accepted through social/behavioral learning theory; and a practice application paper that provides new practice proposals to provide culturally aware interventions for rural Appalachians who have experienced generational ACEs in rural Appalachian communities. Rural Appalachian communities have long faced challenges stemming from untreated ACEs and a shortage of adequately trained professionals to provide proper interventions. This research will not only highlight this critical gap in the literature but also provide insights to educate and prepare future social workers to deliver culturally aware and trauma-informed interventions for rural Appalachians impacted by generational ACEs.