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What are Adverse Childhood Experiences?

mruth0

Updated: Dec 4, 2024

Innovative Services NW strives to be a trauma-informed organization that recognizes the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on our staff, our clients, and our community. Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that take place before the age of 18 that can have negative, lasting effects on health and well-being. This may include experiencing or witnessing violence, abuse, or neglect, having a family member attempt or die from suicide, or growing up in a household with substance misuse, mental health problems, or instability due to familial separation or incarceration.

Adverse Childhood Experiences have been linked to:

  1. Risky health behaviors

  2. Chronic health conditions

  3. Low life potential, and;

  4. Early death

A graphic showing adverse childhood experiences. From left to right: bandage icon with text "traumatic brain injury, fractures, burns", human silhouette icon with lines around head with the. text "depression, anxiety, suicide, PTSD", an icon of a pregnant woman with the text "unintended pregnancy, pregnancy complications, fatal death, a virus icon with text "HIV, STDs", a heart rate icon with text "cancer, diabetes", an alcohol bottle icon with text "alcohol and drug abuse, unsafe safe", a graduation cap icon with text "education, occupation, income".

The presence of ACEs does not resign a child or an adult to a poor outcome. Positive experiences and protective factors can build resiliency that helps lessen potential negative health and life outcomes. We work to address the circumstances that put children and families at risk of ACEs as we work to build a community of healthy and resilient children, adults, and families.

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