Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The Long-Term Health Effects of Childhood Trauma

Many of you are actively working to reduce trauma for children. When you do, you have an even larger effect on their life than you imagined.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) cause toxic stress that can prevent a child from learning, cause negative behaviors, make it difficult to make friends, and cause lasting health problems.
Reducing trauma lowers a child's long-term risk of early pregnancy, substance abuse, depression, heart and liver disease, STDs, smoking, and intimate partner violence.

The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and well-being. People often say that young children are not affected by trauma, neglect, and abuse. The ACE Study has shown that this is not true.

For more information about health risks from trauma, watch this great TED Talk by pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris:

Learn more about ACEs

The CDC website provides information, education, research and a guide to preventing ACEs. Access the ACEs page here. 
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ACEs Connection is a social network that supports communities to accelerate the global ACEs science movement, to recognize the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in shaping adult behavior and health, and to promote trauma-informed and resilience-building practices and policies in all communities and institutions — from schools to prisons to hospitals and churches — to help heal and to develop resilience instead of traumatizing already traumatized people. 

Join the SLO County ACEs Connection Community

Join the movement to prevent ACEs, heal trauma and build resilience by subscribing to San Luis Obispo ACEs Connection. This community-in-practice online network is intended to promote child and family well being through sharing resources, classes and trainings, increasing ACEs awareness, and strengthening SLO County community connections. 

Family-serving professionals, parents and educators are welcome to join. The community is ideal for staying current on trauma-informed practices and resilience-building practices. All community subscribers can share news, research, and events by posting directly to the site. You'll receive alerts in your inbox when other post as well.

Need Help?

Download the Family Resource Center Directory and contact the appropriate Family Resource Center for help from an advocate or other staff member.

Family Resource Centers can help with non-medical needs too, such as food, clothing, and shelter.