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Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)
What are ACEs?
Adverse Childhood Experiences, known as ACES, refer to traumatic or stressful events that occur during childhood. These experiences can affect how children learn, behave, process emotions, and develop physically. Research from the CDC and Kaiser Permanente shows that ACES are strongly linked to long-term health outcomes, mental wellness, and overall life success. Understanding ACES is the first step toward building healthier families and stronger communities. Early awareness makes it easier to identify when a child needs support, stability, or additional resources. By recognizing the signs, parents, educators, and communities can take meaningful steps to reduce the impact of these experiences.
What Counts as an ACE
ACES include a variety of situations that create stress, fear, or instability for children. The most commonly recognized categories include:
Abuse and Neglect
ACES can include direct harm to a child such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. They also include situations where a child’s basic emotional or physical needs are not met, known as physical or emotional neglect. These experiences create stress that can affect a child’s development, confidence, and long-term well-being.
Household Dysfunction
Many ACES come from instability within the home. This includes living with a family member who struggles with substance abuse, mental illness, or violent behavior. It also covers situations where a caregiver is incarcerated or when parents go through divorce or separation. These disruptions can create insecurity and long-term emotional stress for children.
Community and Environmental Stress
Children can also be affected by challenges outside the home. Exposure to violence in the neighborhood, growing up in poverty, facing discrimination, or experiencing homelessness all increase stress levels that impact a child’s sense of safety and stability.
Other Significant Traumatic Events
ACES may also include major life events such as natural disasters, chronic illnesses, or the loss of a caregiver. These experiences can change a child’s daily life instantly, leading to fear, grief, or long-term emotional struggles.
How ACES Shape Childhood and Beyond
The ACES Score
Researchers use an ACES score to identify how many difficult or traumatic experiences a child has faced. The score does not define or label a child, but it helps caregivers and professionals understand the potential risks for emotional, behavioral, or physical challenges later in life.
How ACES Affect Kids
ACES can influence every part of a child’s development. Emotionally, children may struggle with anxiety, depression, anger, or difficulty calming down. In learning environments, they may have trouble focusing, earn lower grades, or display behavior issues. Physical health can also be impacted through sleep problems, headaches, and elevated stress hormones. Socially, children may have trouble making friends, struggle with trust, or withdraw from others.
Why ACES Matter in Adulthood
High ACES scores are strongly linked to challenges later in life. Adults who experienced multiple ACES in childhood face increased risks of heart disease, addiction, mental health struggles, and difficulties maintaining healthy relationships. More information can be found through the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces.
What Helps Kids Recover
Children can recover and thrive when they have strong protective factors. Supportive, caring adults play a crucial role in helping them feel safe. Stable home and school environments, access to mental health services, predictable routines, and involvement in community programs all contribute to healthier emotional and physical development.
Reducing ACES in Our Communities
Communities can work together to reduce ACES by supporting parents and caregivers with resources and education. Expanding access to childcare and early learning programs strengthens stability for families. Increasing available mental health services, creating safe neighborhoods, and promoting positive parenting practices all help lower the number of children exposed to traumatic experiences.
Where to Get Help in Tennessee
Families in Tennessee can find support through several statewide resources. The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services and the Tennessee Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services provide guidance and assistance. Schools offer access to counselors who can help connect families with needed support. Local nonprofits also provide resources such as childcare, housing, food, and crisis assistance.
ACES do not decide a child’s future. With support and caring relationships, children can overcome early challenges and grow into healthy, successful adults. Learning about ACES helps families, schools, and communities create safer, more supportive places for every child to thrive.