Strong
Communities
Raise Strong
Kids
An Introduction to the
Adverse Childhood
Experiences Study
“The solution of all
adult problems
tomorrow depends
in large measure
upon the way our
children grow up
today.”
- Margaret Mead,
Anthropologist
What Are ACEs?
Adverse Childhood Experiences
• ACEs are experiences in
childhood that are unhappy,
unpleasant, or hurtful
• Sometimes
referred to as
toxic stress or
childhood
trauma
What Are ACEs?
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Trauma or Adverse Childhood Experiences:
•Events that can impact a child’s sense of safety and
alter how they view themselves and the world around
them.
•These are physical and emotional responses to
events or experiences that threaten the life or
physical safety of the child.
•These might be events that overwhelm a child’s
capacity to cope and elicit feelings of terror,
powerlessness, and out-of-control physiological
arousal.
What are Adverse Childhood
Experiences (ACEs)?
Growing up (prior to age 18) in a
household with:
•
•
•
•
Recurrent physical abuse
Recurrent emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional or physical neglect
Growing up (prior to age 18) in a
household with (cont):
• An alcohol or drug abuser
• An incarcerated household member
• Someone who is chronically depressed,
suicidal, institutionalized or mentally ill
• A mother who is being treated violently
• One or no parents
Your ACE Score
• If you are interested in
finding out your own ACE
score, please visit:
acestoohigh.com
• Taking the test or even
talking about the test can be
traumatic for some people,
please be prepared to talk
to a friend or professional
about any negative feelings
or thoughts you might
experience
Family Centered Practice, June 8, 2007
Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils 2011
Evidence Suggests:
Many chronic diseases and
developmental delays or
disabilities in adults are
determined decades earlier by
experiences in childhood –
Video for brain science
Behavior is Predictable
All behavior has meaning - both good behavior
and bad behavior
We need to look closely
at what preceded the
behavior - What happened
first that is causing this
behavior?
The Brain and Instinctual
Reactions
Different parts of the brain control:
• Vital functions (heart rate, breathing,
temperature, and balance)
• Emotions and behavior
• Development of language, thought, and
imagination
• Fight, flight or freeze responses
The Brain and Instinctual Reactions
For our brains, survival is the #1 job:
•We don’t think, we just react
•When other parts of our brain are not activated,
we revert to basic instincts which are to attack,
flee, or freeze
•This is the “hot brain”
– Anger = Fight (Increase blood pressure and heart
rate, release stress hormones)
– Fear = Flight (instinctive response to avoid harm,
blood & oxygen rushes to muscles and organs)
– Hopelessness = Freeze (body shuts down, functions
slow, experience of pain is less, normal brain
development shuts down)
Behaviors of Traumatized Children
as a Safety Response
Behaviors are:
•Meant to protect the child from unsafe situations
•Triggered when the child feels that their safety is at risk
(real or perceived)
– Their reality is REAL
– Triggers don’t have to make sense to you
•Triggers are deeply rooted in the brain and happen with
little or no thought
•Triggers are everywhere…we don’t know every piece of a
child’s history
• When a child is in a “hot brain” reaction, they are
immune to rationalizing, arguments,
consequences, losing privileges, restraints,
punishment, or discipline.
• These actions only pit us in a power struggle
that both the adults and children lose.
• Much of what we try to do in the name of
behavior management actually reinforces the
child’s need for protection and drives them
further away from the very people who could
help them.
Early Brain
Development
• Nurturing, responsive, and
individualized interactions
from birth build healthy
brain structure.
• Healthy brain architecture is
the necessary foundation
required for optimal future
learning, behavior, and
health.
Our Challenge
• We can and must “immunize” kids against
the effects of ACEs.
• We can and must reduce the numbers of
ACEs for all children!
ACEs Often Last a Lifetime . . .
But They Don’t Have To
• Healing can occur
• The cycle can be
broken
• Safe, stable, and
nurturing
relationships heal
adults and
children.
It Starts With You!
• Identify and understand the importance of
protective factors
• Utilize protective factors in your own life
• Empower others by educating and
encouraging them to use protective factors
Protective Factors
• Are conditions that increase health and well
being
• Are critical for everyone regardless of age, sex,
ethnicity, racial heritage, economic status,
special needs, or the dynamics of the family unit
• Are buffers that provide support and coping
strategies
Protective Factors that Strengthen
Families and Communities
• Nurturing and Positive Relationships
• Knowledge of Parenting and Child
Development
• Parental Resilience
• Social Connections
• Concrete Support in Times of Need
#1 = Nurturing and Positive
Relationships……
are the key to mentally healthy children and
adolescents
Safe, Stable, Nurturing
Relationships
SAFE = free from harm, fear, anger, yelling,
harsh punishment, and aggression
STABLE = a high degree of consistency and
routine with easy transitions
NURTURING = compassionate, caring,
loving, and responsive caregiver(s)
Building Nurturing
and Attachment
• Observe, attend, and
listen to children
• Provide safe and stable
environments
• Model caring behaviors
• Respond to children’s
needs
• Use positive discipline
• Notice and reinforce
children’s strengths
Begin with yourself
• Take care of your own mental
health
• Develop healthy coping devices
(regular exercise, reading,
listening to music, etc.)
• Seek out healthy family/friends
for support
• Use community supports
(counseling, substance abuse
treatment, self-help
programs, etc.)
Teach the
Seven C’s
You didn’t CAUSE it
You can’t CURE it
You can’t CONTROL it
You can help take CARE of yourself
By COMMUNICATING your feelings,
Making healthy CHOICES, and
CELEBRATING being yourself
To Get Involved Contact
– Marcia Stanton, Child Abuse Prevention Coordinator,
Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• [email protected]
– Mary Warren, New Parent Resource Coordinator,
Prevent Child Abuse Arizona
• [email protected]
Parenting Resources
• 1-877-705-KIDS (5437)
Birth to Five Parenting Questions Helpline
• 1-800-4-A-CHILD (422-4453)
Crisis Line for emotional needs and information about child abuse and
neglect. Also go to www.childhelp.org
•
•
•
•
www.azpbs.org/strongkids
www.apa.org/books
www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopment
www.cdc.gov/parents
Information & Resources
• ACE Study findings and information
- www.acestudy.org or www.cdc.gov
• National Scientific Council on the
Developing Child at Harvard University
- www.developingchild.net
• Academy of Pediatrics
- www.brightfutures.aap.org
More Information & Resources
• National Center for Trauma-Informed Care –
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/nctic
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network –
www.nctsnet.org
• Center for the Study of Social Policy -Information
on Strengthening Families and Protective
Factors – www.cssp.org
• Center for Injury Prevention and Control –
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention
Videos and resources for this PowerPoint:
•ACE Resources used in this presentation:
•http://www.acestudy.org/the-ace-score.html
•http://vetoviolence.cdc.gov/apps/phl/resource_cen
ter_infographic.html
•http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/a
ce_graphics.html
•https://acestoohigh.com/aces-101/
•https://vimeo.com/139998006
•http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources
three-core-concepts-in-early-development/
•http://removedfilm.myshopify.com/pages/watch
Case Study: You have a 4 year old boy named Eric in your
care at Happy Valley Child Care Center. Eric lives with
foster parents who both work fulltime jobs, so he is at child
care from 6am to 6pm. Eric has told you that his mom is in
jail and he misses her. Eric has a difficult time with
transitioning from one activity to the next, hides food in his
cubby, and has temper tantrums when it’s naptime. He
often withdraws from activities, especially if they are
chaotic or noisy.
At the age of 4, what ACE’s could Eric have already
experienced?
What could the child care center be doing to support Eric?
Growing up (prior to age 18) in a
household with (cont):
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Recurrent physical abuse
Recurrent emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Emotional neglect
Physical neglect
An alcohol or drug abuser
An incarcerated household member
Someone who is chronically depressed, suicidal,
institutionalized or mentally ill
• A mother who is being treated violently
• One or no parents