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“Trauma results from an event that an individual interprets as severely threatening or harmful to his or her emotional or physical well-being that produces persistent impairments in mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being” (Rossen, 2020).

ACE stands for “Adverse Childhood Experiences”, and are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood including violence and abuse.

Toxic stress from ACEs can cause chronic health issues, mental illnesses, and substance misuse in adulthood.

However, ACEs are preventable.

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The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) score is a measure of childhood trauma that is determined by how many questions are answered with a "yes" on a list of experiences/questions. Each yes response is worth one point, and the total of all the points is the ACE score. A higher score indicates a greater potential risk for the individual.

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It is estimated that between a quarter and half of youth experience physical assault, with similar prevalence rates for childhood emotional abuse.

Many individuals experience multiple forms of interpersonal violence, not just one

Victimization does not always depend on in-person encounters. For example, cyberbullying is a form of interpersonal violence involving repeated hostile actions that take place using phones, the Internet, or other media.

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Individual and family protective factors

Families who spend time together and discuss dynamics and feelings.

Children who have positive friendships and social networks

Children who succeed in school.

Children who have multiple mentors or positive adult role models.

Families where caregivers can meet basic needs of food, shelter, and medical services.

Families where caregivers have college degrees or higher.

Families where caregivers have consistent employment.

Families with strong social groups and positive relationships with friends and neighbors.

Families where rules are given and consistent, and the child's whereabout are known.

Families where caregivers/adults work through arguments and conflicts tactfully.

Families that participate in positive activities together.

Families that encourage the importance of school for children and promote academic success.

Community protective factors

Communities where families have access to recourses and financial help.

Communities where families have access to medical care and mental health services.

Communities with access to safe and consistent housing.

Communities where families have access to safe childcare assistance and daycares.

Communities where families have access to positive extra-cirriculars and clubs.

Communities where residents are involved in the community and interact with each other and neighbors.

Communities where violence is not tolerated, and is responded to effectively and legally.

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Individual and family risk factors

Families experiencing caregiving challenges related to children with special needs that cannot be met effectively due to lack of knowledge or resources.

Youth who don't feel close to their caregivers and feel like they can't talk to them about their emotions/struggles.

Youth who start dating early or engaging in sexual activities early.

Children and youth with few or no friends.

Families with caregivers who were abused or neglected as children.

Families with single parents.

Low Income/Housing struggles.

Families with adults with low levels of education or incomplete GED.

Families with caregivers who use physical punishment.

Families with inconsistent presence, and low levels of parental monitoring and awareness of children's whereabouts.

Families that are isolated from community.

Families with high conflict.

Community risk factors

Communities with higher rates of violence and crime.

Communities with high rates of poverty

Limited educational resources

Communities with high unemployment rates.

Communities with accessibility to drugs and alcohol.

Communities where neighbors don't know one another.

Communities with little involvement opportunity/extra-cirrciulars for youth.

Communities with frequent housing vacancies, turn-over.

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Individuals with more ACEs are at higher risk for posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, delinquent behavior, and substance abuse than those without assault histories.

Additionally, these interpersonal violence experiences may greatly increase the risk of mental health problems and continued future victimization for both perpetrators and victims.

Example: girls who had experienced sexual assault have nearly a fivefold increase in the rate of posttraumatic stress disorder.

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Childhood Trauma and the Brain | UK Trauma Council