HEALING AND PREVENTING ACE'S

Fortunately, a person can take many actions or efforts to reduce the negative impact of adverse childhood
experiences. These "protective factors are conditions or attributes that, when present in families and
communities, increase the well-being of children and families and reduce the likelihood of maltreatment."
When adverse experiences can not be prevented, protective factors can insulate children from the most
devastating effects of ACEs and support resilience in their systems.

MAKE EYE GIVE 20 SECONDS LOOK FOR THE SAY "SORRY" HELPS KIDS AND
CONTACT HUGS GOOD ADULTS
EXPRESS THEIR
FEELINGS
One of the easiest A 20-second hug can When someone has When we put aside
ways to show love to increase levels of experienced pain or feelings of shame and Talking about your
oxytocin (the love trauma, it is easy to take responsibility and feelings validates that
your kids is by giving
focus on the bad and
them eye contact. hormone) constantly scan for make things right with what you are
Because of this, the reduce blood danger. However, someone we love or experiencing is real and
more eye contact pressure and there is a lot of good to care about, we — and means something to
cortisol (the stress look for too. Try being our relationships — you. It also allows you
received, the more
hormone) grateful for all the little are better for it. to respond
kids feel love. and big things in your
Eye contact is increase happiness life. Apologies are appropriately and build
powerful and helps lower stress powerful. They bring deeper, more
build a strong, loving improve us together. meaningful
relationships and relationships with your
relationship between
connection friends, family, and
kids and parents.
loved ones.

SLOW DOWN PLAY AND MOVE BE A SOURCES SHOW UP KEEP LEARNING

OF SAFETY AND
Slowing down in life The right mix of SUPPORT Showing up means Understand how ACEs
can have many positive physical activity, bringing your whole impact you and your
Feeling safe and valued
benefits. Taking the enough sleep and less is vital to a child's being — your attention parenting. Then, heal
time to pause and time sitting (for development. and awareness — from your trauma and
reflect can help you example in front of Feeling a sense of when you’re with your pain.
identify areas that need screens) is good for safety (physically, child. When we show Active mindfulness
emotionally, and
more attention, make learning, thinking, the up, we are mentally techniques, such as
relational) is crucial to
better decisions, reduce growth of strong bones child development. It and emotionally those practiced during
stress and anxiety, give and muscles, and lots propels positive present for our child in yoga, have been found
you a greater gratitude of other health attachment, personal that moment. Parents to restore balance to
growth and contributes who "show up" for
for what you have, and benefits. the fight or flight
to the 5 development
even boost creativity. their children help response, which is
domains.
them feel safe, seen, often working overtime
soothed, and secure in the brains of people
from birth through with ACEs.
early adulthood.

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 ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, refer to a range of stressful events or circumstances that children
may experience during their childhood, such as all types of abuse and neglect, including parental substance
use, incarceration, and domestic violence. ACEs can also include situations that may cause trauma for a child,
such as having a parent with a mental illness or being part of a family going through a divorce. These negative
experiences can tremendously impact various health conditions, including those of mental disorders.

ABU
SE

Physical
Emotional
H O

Mental Illness Sexual

USEH OLD D

Divorce
Incarcerated Relative
Domestic Violence Physical
Substance Abuse Emotional
CT
SF Y

LE
UN

CT E G
IO N
N

A landmark study in the 1990s found a significant relationship between the number of ACEs a person
experienced and a variety of negative outcomes in adulthood, including poor physical and mental health,
substance use, and risky behaviors.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). About the CDC-Kaiser ACE study: Major findings. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/about.html.

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 THE ACE PYRAMID

The ACE pyramid helps explain how ACEs are strongly related to developing risk factors for disease and
disability throughout a lifespan. As the number of Adverse Childhood Experiences in a child's life increases, so
does their risk of these outcomes.

DEATH
EARLY
DEATH

DISEASE AND
DISABILITY, SOCIAL
PROBLEMS

ADOPTION OF HEATH-RISK
BEHAVIORS

SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE

DEVELOPMENT

DISRUPTED NEURODEVELOPMENT
CONCEPTION

ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPEREINCES

ACEs don’t define your life or you. It is important to understand that there is an association and not causation
of ACEs to later health outcomes. However, it outlines why work needs to happen to support young people
who have experienced adversity and trauma.

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 ACE'S AND THE BRAIN

Early nurturing, responsive interactions build health brain architecture that serves as the foundation for health
and well-being. Frequent and prolonged exposure to adverse childhood experiences can create toxic stress
which can damage the developing brain of a child.

Lowers their tolerance

for stress which results
in more defiant Increases problems
Reduces the ability to behaviors. with learning and
learn, respond, and memory, which may
problem solve, which have a long lasting
can create problems at affect.
school and at home.

Increases difficulty in
making new
friendships and
Increases stress maintaing
hormones' which relationships.
affects the body's
ability to fight
infections.

TYPICAL DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENTAL TRAUMA

Cognition Cognition

Social Emotional Social Emotional

Regulation
Regulation
Survival Survival

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