Adverse childhood experiences, commonly called ACEs, can have lasting health impacts. Children who are subjected to abuse, violence, deprivation, hunger, or other traumatic experiences can carry the scars with them over a lifetime.
Sixty-two percent of Washington adults report one or more adverse childhood experiences. We know that the more ACEs a person experiences, the greater his or her risk is for alcoholism, teen pregnancy, poverty, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, divorce, HIV infection, mental illness, and many other conditions. That’s why Clark County Public Health, the Public Health Advisory Council, and other organizations in Clark County are working to prevent ACEs, promote awareness of the problem and find community solutions. The earlier we can address ACEs in individuals, the better our chances are of promoting healing and resilience.
Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris's presentation "How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime" explains how this trauma effects the developing brains of children and has the potential to impact their health in later years.
ACEs Action Alliance
The ACEs Action Alliance is a collaborative of individuals, non-profits, educational personnel and private organizations that work together to promote a trauma-informed, resilient Clark County. For more information about the ACEs Action Alliance and their meetings, see their calendar for dates and location.
For more information, contact the Chronic Disease Prevention team.