ABSTRACT
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent a child’s exposure to negative events, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, absence of a parent because of divorce or separation, and a family/household member’s mental illness, incarceration, and/or substance abuse [1], [2]. Research has shown that majority of adults have experienced at least one ACE, [3] with prevalence estimates ranging from 65% to 87% [4], [5]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that 59.4% of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) respondents in 2009 reported having at least one ACE, approximately 25% of adults reported experiencing ≥3 ACEs and 8.7% reported ≥5 ACEs [2]. These high prevalence estimates highlight the importance for additional
efforts, locally, state-wide, and nationally, to help in the reduction and prevention of child maltreatment, and associated family dysfunction. There is also a need for services to treat outcomes, especially stress-related health illnesses, associated with ACEs [2], from childhood through adulthood.
