What are ACEs?
According to the CDC, the term ACEs refers to adverse childhood experiences- “potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years).” [1]
Examples include:
1) Experiencing loss, violence, abuse or neglect.
2) Experiencing parental separation.
3) Living with a family member suffering from mental illness.
Studies have shown that such adverse experiences can affect a child’s wellbeing throughout their lifespan. Listen in as Dr. Nadine Burke Harris explains this concept in detail.
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[1] About Adverse Childhood Experiences | Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) | CDC
Learn More About Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
The resources below explain ACEs while also emphasizing prevention, protective factors, and positive childhood experiences.
CDC — About Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
A clear introduction to what ACEs are, examples of adversity, potential effects across the lifespan, and the importance of prevention and positive childhood experiences.
https://www.cdc.gov/aces/about/index.html
CDC — Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences
Practical information for parents, caregivers, communities, and organizations on creating safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments and supporting children's emotional well-being.
https://www.cdc.gov/aces/prevention/index.html
CDC — ACEs Risk & Protective Factors
Explains factors that can increase risk as well as protective factors such as caring adults, strong social support, positive friendships, family connection, access to mental-health care, and safe after-school activities.
https://www.cdc.gov/aces/risk-factors/index.html
CDC — ACEs Resources Library
A collection of reports, educational materials, graphics, and evidence-based resources for learning more about ACEs, prevention, and positive childhood experiences.
https://www.cdc.gov/aces/communication-resources/index.html
ACEs Aware — Resources
An in-depth collection of educational resources related to ACEs, toxic stress, trauma-informed care, resilience, screening, and family education. Some materials are designed for health professionals.
https://www.acesaware.org/resources/
Harvard Center on the Developing Child — Resilience
Science-based information about resilience and how supportive relationships and adaptive skills can help children respond to adversity and develop over time.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resource-guides/guide-resilience/
There Is Hope
Adverse childhood experiences can affect a child's emotional, behavioral, and physical well-being, but ACEs do not determine a child's future. Children can heal, grow, and develop resilience when they have supportive relationships and environments that help them feel safe, valued, and connected.
Supportive relationships with caring adults can help buffer children's stress responses. Parents, caregivers, relatives, teachers, mentors, coaches, and other trusted adults can all become important sources of connection and support.
You Can Help Build Protective Factors
Create predictable routines and a sense of safety.
Listen to children and take their feelings seriously.
Help children identify and express their emotions.
Encourage healthy relationships with trusted adults.
Provide opportunities to play, create, write, learn, and connect with others.
Recognize that challenging behavior may sometimes communicate an unmet emotional need.
Celebrate effort, growth, creativity, and progress.
Seek professional support when a child's emotional or behavioral needs become difficult to manage.
Build a community around the child so families do not have to navigate difficult experiences alone.
Resilience Can Grow
Resilience does not mean that difficult experiences did not happen or that children should simply “get over” them. Resilience develops through relationships, experiences, skills, and support. A child's story can include adversity without being defined by adversity.
A difficult beginning does not have to determine the ending. With connection, support, and opportunities to heal and grow, children can thrive.
