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ACEs, or Adverse Childhood Experiences, are negative and/or traumatic events that happen in a child's life before the age of 18. ACEs can have a lasting impact on a person's physical and mental health in adulthood.

A traumatic event is an experience that causes prolonged stress or toxic stress to a child. Events can include but are not limited to:

Feeling scared/afraid/terrified

Helplessness or loneliness

At risk of danger or are in danger

Physically injured or hurt

Traumatic events can range in severity and can often be triggered by seeing or experiencing the event in the media. Types of traumatic events students have experienced include but are not limited to:

Verbal, physical, sexual or emotional abuse

Domestic violence

Shootings, community violence

Bullying

Car accident

Witnessing injury or death

Loss of a family member/loved one

Divorce or separation

While these events are common in many students, they are not the only events that students could experience that are traumatic. Any experience that causes prolonged or toxic stress is considered a traumatic event.

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ACEs are very common in children and adults. In one study of, 60% to 80% of adults in the United States have reported experiencing one adverse childhood experience in their lifetime. Within that same study 1 out of 6 adults reported experiencing 4 of more ACEs before the age of 18. In schools, approximately 75% of high school students have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience and about 20% report experiencing four more ACEs.

As educators it is important to consider who are students are, what their experiences are, and how they impact our students actions within the classroom.

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Adverse Childhood Experiences are assessed in a set of 10 questions about their life experiences. Questions often ask participants to respond "yes" or "no" if they have experienced that event. Events and scenarios presented in these assessments are centered around abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.

Depending on the assessment, participants are asked their strengths and areas of improvement. Participants are typically asked the frequency of these events and their impact on their lives as adults today.

Below are a few examples of ACEs assessments:

ACEs Aware

NAADAC

Johns Hopkins Medicine

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Anyone under the age of 18 is at risk for ACEs, however some population of children are more at risk than others. Children more at risk to experience adverse childhood experiences include children of family members with a substance abuse disorders and mental health conditions, girls, children whose parents experience stress, children experiencing socioeconomic challenges, and children whose race or ethnicity is a minority group.

While ACEs cannot be prevented, children can be protected from adverse childhood experiences. Protective factors include positive friendships, families who create a safe and nurturing environment, families who encourage the importance of school and community, engaging in positive and fun experiences as a family, structure and implementing consistent rules, parents who have college degrees and stable employment, and having basic needs met.

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Children's brains are malleable and plastic, as a result ACEs can have a lasting impact on the brain. When a child experiences toxic stress, the part of the neural pathways of the part of the brain being developed at the age trauma is experienced is altered.

Depending on when students experienced high stress or trauma, the part of the brain that is developing can be impacted. For a child who experienced ACEs inutero and infancy, the functions of the brainstem may be affected. If the ACE is experienced in childhood the Diencephalon and Limbic system may be impacted. As a result, children may shut down easily, have trouble forming relationships, be impulsive, and have difficulty regulating their stress and emotions. ACEs that occur in adolescence may result in students having lower self-esteem, have difficulty making decisions, and struggle to build trust.

The impact of ACEs on the brain can be long lasting. ACEs can result in TBIs, an increase in anxiety, depression, and mental health conditions, risky behavior in adulthood, an increased risk of cancer and diabetes, and impact educational and occupational opportunities in adulthood.

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While ACEs are not preventable, as educators we can help advocate for students experiencing toxic stress. Some ways to protect students from continuing the impact of ACEs include:

Connecting students to a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional

Implementing trauma informed care within the classroom and school setting

Reducing toxic stress through connecting students and families with resources for what they need: access to food, housing, water, family-based services

Building positive and trusting relationships with students and their families

Positive home and school connection and communication

Advocating for students needs within the school environment

Teaching life skills: handling conflict, building coping skills and strategies, joining positive communities such as sports, groups, and activities.