Raising Awareness on ACES: Why Adverse Childhood Experiences Matter

Every year, ACES Awareness Day serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact childhood trauma can have on individuals, families, and communities. Adverse Childhood Experiences—commonly referred to as ACES—are more than just difficult memories from the past. They are risk factors that can shape a person’s physical and mental health well into adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can affect children through adulthood. Nationally, 2 out of 3 children have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE). Connections with caring, supportive adults who understand the impact of ACEs can make a difference.

What Are ACES?

ACES refer to a range of stressful or traumatic events that occur during childhood (before age 18). These experiences fall into three broad categories:

• Abuse: physical, emotional, or sexual

• Neglect: physical or emotional

• Household Challenges: such as parental substance abuse, domestic violence, incarceration, or mental illness

  
  

The original CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study, conducted in the 1990s, revealed a strong link between these experiences and a host of health issues later in life. Without support, adverse childhood experiences (or ACEs) can cause long-lasting harm and increase the chances that children will experience negative health effects like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, depression, anxiety, and asthma later in life. Educators and law enforcement can provide care and support to children experiencing trauma.

Why Awareness Matters

The effects of ACES are not just personal—they ripple out into communities, schools, and systems. A child exposed to multiple ACEs may struggle with learning, emotional regulation, or social behavior, making it harder to succeed in school or build stable relationships.

By raising awareness, we help people:

• Recognize the signs of trauma in children and adults

• Understand the connection between early adversity and lifelong health

• Break the cycle of trauma through support, intervention, and prevention

ACES are not a sentence—they are a signal. When recognized early, there are ways to mitigate their impact.

The Power of Resilience

The good news? Resilience can be built. Loving relationships, safe environments, and supportive communities are powerful protective factors. Trauma-informed care in schools, healthcare, and social services can transform outcomes for those affected.

What You Can Do

Did you know you can play a role in helping a child heal from the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)? There are many ways to build a child’s resiliency and reduce the impact of trauma, starting with building positive relationships that help a child build a sense of belonging, and increasing connections to community, culture, and spirituality.

Take a moment to:

• Educate yourself and others on the signs and effects of ACES

• Support organizations that provide trauma-informed services

• Advocate for policies that promote mental health, family stability, and early intervention

• Listen with empathy—sometimes, being a consistent, caring adult is the most healing act of all

A Future of Healing and Hope

ACES Awareness Day is not just about looking back on what’s gone wrong. It’s about looking forward—to healing, to understanding, to building stronger, more compassionate communities. Together, we can turn awareness into action and ensure that every child has the chance to grow up safe, supported, and strong.