Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

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What are Adverse Childhood Experiences?

Adverse childhood experiences (also known as ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events, such as neglect and/or violence. ACEs are strongly related to brain development and a wide range of health problems throughout a person’s lifetime.

ACEs may include but are not limited to physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, living in poverty, parental mental illness, discrimination, substance use disorder or incarceration.

Pub. 5222 - Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
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Why is it Important to Consider ACEs and their Impact?

Research has shown that:

When families experience historical and systemic racism or living in poverty for generations, the effects of ACEs can add up over time.
ACEs are very common in every population group.
ACEs can have a significant impact on a child’s ability to succeed in school, causing a negative impact on their mental health and general well-being.
Adults who have experienced ACEs may have higher rates of negative health outcomes, including depression, obesity, substance abuse, anxiety, smoking and early death.

Resilience and Protective Factors

What is Resilience?

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from challenges and hardship.

Parental and child resilience have been shown to reduce the negative impacts of ACEs.

Therefore, it is important to stress that ACEs can be overcome with proper supports and protective factors.

Protective Factors

Protective factors that may boost child or parent resilience may include:

supportive and caring relationships and social connections
programs that understand a person’s background and culture
a healthy lifestyle, which may include regular exercise, mindfulness, getting sufficient sleep and eating a healthy and nutritious diet
economic support/stability for families
quality childcare and education early in life.

An individual who has experienced ACEs may benefit from a wide array of community-based services. More information on ACEs and resources on what services may be available in individual communities are below.

More Information on ACEs

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

New York State Department of Health, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and Office of Mental Health

“Understanding and Responding to Adverse Childhood Experiences in New York State”

New York State Council on Children and Families

Research Brief on Child Well-Being: “Adverse Childhood Experiences Among New York’s Adults”

National Institutes of Health

“Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience and Mindfulness-Based Approaches: Common Denominator Issues for Children with Emotional, Mental, or Behavioral Problems”

Early Care and Learning Council

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences

National Conference of State Legislatures

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ncsl.org)

The Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center

KIDS COUNT® Data Center: New York State Child Wellbeing Indicators & Data

The data and resource information contained in NYS KIDS COUNT Multimedia Data Book 2020 are a snapshot of the social and emotional development of children and adults in each of our counties. We included data that was unique and not commonly collected because of the age group or program eligibility. We wanted to highlight early childhood resources as well as resources for older youth.