With most research offering a strong focus on adolescence as a risk period of development, much less attention has been paid to identifying protective factors that can be implemented in middle childhood. One of the most important and easily implemented protective factors in children faced with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) is social support (Fong et al., 2020) since it provides a buffer that reduces or blocks physiological stress responses. This presentation aims to move away from viewing the child as a ‘vulnerable individual’ to focusing on the social-ecological factors that facilitate positive meaning-making when buffered by protective factors and coping resources.