What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) include neglect; physical, mental or sexual abuse; or household dysfunction, such as exposure to domestic violence, divorce, or losing a parent. Research has found that such experiences can alter a children’s brain development and immune systems, leading to an increased risk of health and social problems in adults that range from obesity to alcoholism, heart and lung disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic depression, addiction, and suicide. ACEs are also tied to societal problems such as dropout rates, teen pregnancy, and incarceration.

"Children's Exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences is the greatest unaddressed public health threat of our time." - Robert W. Block, past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics