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The Groundbreaking ACE Study
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Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, early experiences are an important public health issue. Much of the foundational research in this area has been referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
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ReMoved
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A Must See Short Film by Nathanael Matanick
"We made ReMoved with the desire that it would be used to serve in bringing awareness, encourage, and be useful in foster parent training, and raising up foster parents."
Additional Resources
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Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress and Implications for Juvenile Justice
A Guide for Positive Youth Justice Initiative Counties
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Effects of Complex Trauma
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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Adverse Childhood Experiences and the Lifelong Consequences of Trauma
American Academy of Pediatrics
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The long shadow of adverse childhood experiences
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Adverse Childhood Experiences
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study — the largest, most important public health study you never heard of — began in an obesity clinic
By Jane Ellen Stevens in ACE Study, Child abuse, Child trauma, Chronic disease, Neurobiology
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ACE is Widespread: National and State Level Prevalence
Vanessa Sacks, M.P.P., David Murphey, Ph.D., and Kristin Moore, Ph.D.
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Gratitude and Well Being: The Benefits of Appreciation
Randy A. Sansone, MD and Lori A. Sansone, MD
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Practicing Gratitude can be Good for Mental Health & Well Being
American Psychiatric Association Staff
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Connectedness & Health: The Science of Social Connectedness
The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research & Education By Dr. Emma Seppala
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Social Relationships and Health
Sheldon Cohen, Carnegie Mellon University
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The Benefits of a Compassionate Mind
Association for Psychological Science By Dr. Emma Seppala
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New Study on Effects of Prayer on Mental Health
Spirituality & Health, By Traci Pedersen
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Science, Psychology & Metaphysics of Prayer
Psychology Today, By Michael J. Formica, MS, MA, EdM
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InBrief: The Science of Neglect
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Extensive biological and developmental research shows significant neglect—the ongoing disruption or significant absence of caregiver responsiveness—can cause more lasting harm to a young child's development than overt physical abuse, including subsequent cognitive delays, impairments in executive functioning, and disruptions of the body's stress response. This edition of the InBrief series explains why significant deprivation is so harmful in the earliest years of life and why effective interventions are likely to pay significant dividends in better long-term outcomes in learning, health, and parenting of the next generation.
Childhood Trauma and Positive Health
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The term Adverse Childhood experience (ACEs) refers to a range of events that a child can experience, which leads to stress and can result in trauma and chronic stress responses. Multiple, chronic or persistent stress can impact a child’s developing brain and has been linked in numerous studies to a variety of high-risk behaviors, chronic diseases and negative health outcomes in adulthood such as smoking, diabetes and heart disease. According to the CDC, Adverse childhood experiences are broken down into three groups including abuse, household challenges, and neglect. The presence of adverse childhood experiences can lead to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, and low life potential or early death. Learn more here.
Link between ACE and Addiction of All Kinds, Including Validation Addiction:
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Link between ACE and Substance Abuse (1)
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Link between ACE and Substance Abuse (2)
Link between ACE and Alcohol Abuse
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Link between ACE and Prescription Drug Use
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Link between ACE and Illicit Drug Use
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Link between ACE and Attempted Suicide
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Link between ACE and Depressive Disorders
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Link between ACE and Sleep Disturbances
Link between ACE and Risky Sexual Behavior
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Link between ACE, Adolescent Pregnancy and Fetal Death
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Link between ACE and Criminal Behavior
Link between ACE and Household Dysfunction
Link between ACE and Autoimmune Disease
Link between ACE and Cardiovascular Disease​
Link between ACE and Diabetes​
Link between ACE and Cancer​
Link between ACE and Risk of Premature Mortality
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Understanding Yourself - Get your ACE Score
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There are 10 types of childhood trauma measured in the ACE Study. Five are personal — physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional neglect. Five are related to other family members: a parent who’s an alcoholic, a mother who’s a victim of domestic violence, a family member in jail, a family member diagnosed with a mental illness, and the disappearance of a parent through divorce, death or abandonment. Each type of trauma counts as one.
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Find your ACE score here (ACEs too High)
Take the ACE Quiz - And Learn What it Does and Doesn't Mean (Shots: Health News from NPR)
ENGAGE
Adverse Childhood Experiences
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Center for Youth Wellness
Our mission in the fight against ACEs and toxic stress is three-fold: prevent, screen and heal.
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American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)
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Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences
Presentation from the 2015 ASTHO Annual Meeting Salt Lake City, Utah on September 30, 2015.
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Reducing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) by Building Community Capacity: A Summary of Washington Family Policy Council Research Findings
Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community
ACEs Response Toolkit: Raising Resiliency
Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences: Creating Hope for a Healthier Arizona
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Building Resiliency Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences [ACEs]
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Adverse Childhood Experiences Prevention Fund
Preventing adverse childhood experiences and healing the trauma of those already affected
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The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study: Child Abuse and Public Health – Dr. Robert Anda
How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Life Span
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Nadine Burke Harris’ healthcare practice focuses on a little-understood, yet very common factor in childhood that can profoundly impact adult-onset disease: trauma. Read more here.
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