ACEs Handout

Adverse Childhood Experiences - ACES

Aces Study

Results

TEN ACES identified

Implications

REsilience Factors

The ACES study found that these ten types of adverse childhood experiences are more common and stay with kids into adulthood. These experiences include

1. Physical abuse
2. Emotional abuse
3. Sexual abuse
4. Physical neglect
5. Emotional neglect
6. Substance abuse in the house
7. Mentally ill household members,
8. Parental separation or divorce
9. Parental incarceration
10. Domestic Violence

The findings indicated trauma changes the brain development of a child. The researchers concludedthat the more ACES a child experiences, the higher the risk for depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other health-related issues. Children may also exhibit challenges in behavior and academic skills.

Relationships, responsive interactions, respect, routines, and repetition are the 5 R's of resiliency that combat the negative effects of ACEs. Teachers can produce all five of these while using trauma-informed practices in their classrooms.

Between 1995-1997, a study was conducted to examine the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and their impact in adulthood.

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The ACES study found that adverse childhood experiences are more common than people think. The study also provided evidence that kids don't forget the trauma they experience at an early age. Rather, that trauma stays with them as they grow into adulthood.