The Lifetime Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up.
Adverse Childhood Experiences — known as ACEs — measure the repeated stress of abuse, neglect, parental addiction, mental illness, and divorce. Medical evidence shows ACEs have long-term, measurable effects on the development of the brain, immune system, hormonal systems and genetic regulation through the mechanism of toxic stress. These effects unfold over a lifetime to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of ACEs face triple the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
Understanding ACEs and toxic stress is critical to understanding the risk childhood trauma poses to individuals, families, and society. Only when we understand the root cause, can we begin the process of healing through integrated, trauma-informed care.
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The Lifetime Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up.
Adverse Childhood Experiences — known as ACEs — measure the repeated stress of abuse, neglect, parental addiction, mental illness, and divorce. Medical evidence shows ACEs have long-term, measurable effects on the development of the brain, immune system, hormonal systems and genetic regulation through the mechanism of toxic stress. These effects unfold over a lifetime to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of ACEs face triple the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
Understanding ACEs and toxic stress is critical to understanding the risk childhood trauma poses to individuals, families, and society. Only when we understand the root cause, can we begin the process of healing through integrated, trauma-informed care.
Scroll Down to Learn More…
The TED Talk that Launched a Movement:
How Childhood Trauma Effects Health Across a Lifetime
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. This unfolds across a lifetime, to the point where those who’ve experienced high levels of trauma are at triple the risk for heart disease and lung cancer.
An impassioned plea for pediatric medicine to confront the prevention and treatment of trauma, head-on, by Burke Harris in her now viral TedTalk video, "How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime," which has reached over 1.6 million views.
Roadmap for Resilience: The California Surgeon General's Report on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Toxic Stress, and Health
As Surgeon General for the State of California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris led the development and publication of of the The California Surgeon General’s report. The groundbreaking document lays out a first-in-the-nation roadmap to address ACEs and toxic stress through an evidence-based, cross-sector approach, and is a vital component of our overarching efforts to create a healthier California for All. This work has been a collaborative effort, driven by data and the rigorous application of science, while always keeping the person and family at the heart of decision-making.
ACEs Aware: Healing from Toxic Stress with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California’s first Surgeon General, defines the toxic stress response and its potentially harmful impact on health, especially in children. She also discusses evidence-based practices that individuals can adopt to regulate the biological stress response and improve health outcomes. Part of the The ACEs Aware Video Storytelling Series.
ACE Training for Medical Professionals
The ACE Screening Implementation How-To Guide was developed to facilitate the adoption of ACE screening and trauma-informed care into practice at the organizational level. This series includes three modules: (1) an introductory overview of the How-To Guide, (2) guidance on what is needed clinically, operationally, administratively, and emotionally to begin screening, and (3) guidance on key decisions that must be made in selecting your clinic’s approach to implementing ACE screening and treating toxic stress. Please note, CEs are available for the stages, but not for the introductory module.
ACEs Aware: Stress Busters
ACE Resource Network: Number Story
The ACE Resource Network builds awareness of ACEs and to help prevent and address childhood adversity, toxic stress, and their impacts. They aim to increase access to healing strategies and resources, and to offer hope.
Number Story is a campaign to encourage individuals to understand their “number” — their ACEs score — and the associated risk factors that may affect their lifelong health.
