LESSON 3.17

Children’s Health in the U.S. – Part 1

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

  • Children’s exposure to adverse experiences or situations can have a significant impact on their long-term health and well-being.
  • ACEs have been linked to a wide range of chronic physical and psychological conditions, as well as risk taking behaviors, later in life.
  • The National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) asks parents/caregivers about their children’s exposure to the nine ACEs that have been linked to long-term health problems.

Source: HRSA Maternal & Child Health Bureau, 2015

The 2011-2012 NSCH results found that:

  • 22.6% (more than 1 in 5) of children less than 18 year of age had experienced a minimum of two or more ACEs.
  • 25.7% experienced economic hardship
  • 20.1% lived with a parent who was divorced or separated after the child’s birth
  • 10.7% lived with someone who had a substance abuse problem
  • 8.6% were a victim or or witness to neighborhood violence
  • Another 8.6% lived with someone who was mentally ill or suicidal for more than a couple of weeks

Source: HRSA Maternal & Child Health Bureau, 2015

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are events or situations that occur during childhood that adults can recall, and that have been documented to impact the long-term health outcomes for those adults. The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences indicates that at least 1 in 5 children experienced 2 or more events or life situations that placed them at an increased risk of having long-term physical or psychological consequences.