Adverse Childhood Experiences

Hi! Terri here! Just a quick note regarding ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and the impact it has. This is from the CDC (abridged content below, link to CDC site at the end, link to infographic printout at the end): What are ACEs? Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events in childhood (0-17 years), such as neglect and experiencing or witnessing violence. ACEs include aspects of a child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as living in a household with substance misuse or mental health problems. Many People Report ACEs According to data

​Hi! Terri here! Just a quick note regarding ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and the impact it has. This is from the CDC (abridged content below, link to CDC site at the end, link to infographic printout at the end):

What are ACEs?

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events in childhood (0-17 years), such as neglect and experiencing or witnessing violence.

ACEs include aspects of a child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as living in a household with substance misuse or mental health problems.

​Many People Report ACEs

According to data collected from more than 144,000 adults across 25 states between 2015 and 2017:

Types of ACEs

• Abuse
  • Emotional
  • Physical
  • Sexual
• Neglect
  • Emotional
  • Physical
• Household Challenges *
  • Substance misuse
  • Mental illness, including attempted suicide
  • Divorce or separation
  • Incarceration
  • Intimate Partner Violence or Domestic Violence
• Other Adversity
  • Bullying
  • Community violence
  • Natural disasters
  • Refugee or wartime experiences
  • Witnessing or experiencing acts of terrorism

*The child lives with a parent, caregiver, or other adult who experiences one or more of these challenges.

Some Groups Are More Likely to Have Experienced ACEs

Multiple studies show that people who identified as members of these groups as adults reported experiencing significantly more ACEs:

• Black, Hispanic/Latino, or multiracial people
• People with less than a high school education
• People making less than $15,000 per year
• People who are unemployed or unable to work
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people

ACEs Can Accumulate and Their Effects Last Beyond Childhood

The effects of ACEs can add up over time and affect a person throughout their life.

Children who repeatedly and chronically experience adversity can suffer from TOXIC STRESS.

Toxic stress happens when the brain endures repeated stress or danger, then releases FIGHT-OR-FLIGHT HORMONES like cortisol.

This INTERNAL ALARM SYSTEM increases heart rate and blood pressure and damages the digestive and immune systems.

Toxic stress can disrupt ORGAN, TISSUE, AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. Over time this can limit a person’s ability to process information, make decisions, interact with others, and regulate emotions. These consequences may follow a person into adulthood.

​ACEs Can Increase Risk for Poor Social Outcomes, Disease, and Death

​Research shows that experiencing a higher number of ACEs is associated with many of the leading causes of death like heart disease and cancer.

ACEs Can Echo Across Generations

The consequences of ACEs can be passed down from one generation to the next if children don’t have protective buffers like positive childhood experiences or a caring adult in their lives.

Also, when families experience historical and systemic racism or living in poverty for generations, the effects of ACEs can add up over time.

We Can Create Positive Childhood Experiences

The science of ACEs also reveals opportunities to improve the lives of all children and adults.

Strengthen families’ financial stability with paid time off, child tax credits, flexible and consistent work schedules.

Promote social norms that protect against violence with positive parenting practices, prevention efforts involving men and boys.

Help kids have a good start with early learning programs, affordable preschool and childcare programs.

Teach healthy relationship skills by teaching how to handle conflict, managing negative feelings, how to relieve pressure from peers, how to have healthy, and non-violent dating relationships.

Connect youth with activities and caring adults like mentoring programs and after school activities.

Intervene to lessen immediate and long-term harms with ACEs education, therapy, and family-centered treatment for substance abuse.

Healthy Childhoods Start Now

Working together, we can help create neighborhoods, communities, and a world in which every child can thrive.
From the CDC:
ACEs Infographic | Veto Violence (cdc.gov)
preventing-childhood-adversity