Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
ACEs are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood and are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood. ACEs include:
- Experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect
- Witnessing violence
- Having a family member attempt or die by suicide
ACEs also include aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as growing up in a household with:
- Substance misuse
- Mental health problems
- Instability due to parental separation or household members being imprisoned
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We know that children who have some types of adverse (negative) childhood experiences are at risk for having negative physical and/or mental/behavioral outcomes. These ACES were originally in a public health population survey and only looked at harm in the child’s home environment, mostly related to the caregiver relationship.
More recent studies have included ACEs that have happened in a child’s broader environment including their neighborhood, school, and community settings. Some factors, such as racism and discrimination, may cut across a child’s home and the broader ecosystem. That is why all organizations that work with children and families must strive to be anti-racist.
Impacts of ACEs on children
These events do not affect all children the same way, and we have a great deal of information on how to reduce the negative impact of ACEs or trauma on children.
Learn more about the balancing effect of positive factors.
References
- Estimated Proportion of Adult Health Problems Attributable to Adverse Childhood Experiences and Implications for Prevention — 25 States
- Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults.
- A New Framework for Addressing Adverse Childhood and Community Experiences: The Building Community Resilience Model