ACEs include all types of abuse and neglect, such as 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.

Nationally—and in all 50 states and the District of Columbia—the two most common ACEs are 1. Economic hardship and 2. The separation or divorce of a parent or guardian. 

Females and several racial/ethnic minority groups were at greater risk for experiencing 4 + ACEs. Many people do not realize that exposure to ACEs is associated with an increased risk for health problems across the lifespan(*).

YES, We can recover from ACEs and trauma, and improve our lives and our relationships. other family members can protect against ACEs and reduce their burden. 

Some adults who had ACEs when they were children have a harder time providing a safe and nurturing environment for themselves and their children. In addition, being a parent with ACEs can increase the risk that your children will also have ACEs. 

Toxic stress from ACEs can negatively affect children's:1. Brain development, 2. Immune systems, and 3. Stress-response systems. These changes can affect children's attention, decision-making, and learning. Children growing up with toxic stress may have difficulty forming healthy and stable relationships