Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the Developing Child

     This summer I attended a couple of community discussions here in town that were presented the The Hutchinson Community Foundation.  One discussion was based on a video called "The Raising of America."  We viewed Part 1 (of a five-part series).  The series explores the question: Why are so many children in America faring so poorly?  The series investigates this question through different view:  What does science tell us about the enduring importance of early life experiences on the brain and body? What it is like to be a parent today? And what policies and structures help or hinder the raising of healthy, happy and compassionate children? The Signature Hour covers all three of these issues.
     ACEs is a term given to abuse, neglect, and household changes that children, under the age of eighteen, have experienced.  It is the belief that children experiencing ACEs have more health and well-being concerns that those children not experiencing them.  According to an extensive study by the Center for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente, the following ACEs were identified:

• Abuse
  • Emotional abuse: An adult living in your home swore at you, insulted you, put you down, or behaved in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt.
  • Physical abuse: An adult living in your home pushed, grabbed, slapped, threw something at you, or hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured.
  • Sexual abuse: Any adult, relative, family friend, or stranger who was at least 5 years older than you ever touched or fondled your body in a sexual way, made you touch his/her body in a sexual way, attempted to have any type of sexual intercourse with you.
• Household Challenges
  • Mother treated violently: The mother or stepmother was pushed, grabbed, slapped, had something thrown at her,  was kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, hit with something hard, repeatedly hit for at least a few minutes, or ever threatened or hurt by a knife or gun by your father (or stepfather) or mother’s boyfriend.
  • Household substance abuse: A household member was a problem drinker or alcoholic or a household member used street drugs.
  • Mental illness in household: A household member was depressed or mentally ill or a household member attempted suicide.
  • Parental separation or divorce: The child's parents were ever separated or divorced.
  • Criminal household member: A household member went to prison.
• Neglect¹
  • Emotional neglect: Someone in your family helped you feel important or special, you felt loved, people in your family looked out for each other and felt close to each other, and your family was a source of strength and support.²
  • Physical neglect: There was someone to take care of you, protect you, and take you to the doctor if you needed it², you didn’t have enough to eat, your parents were too drunk or too high to take care of you, and you had to wear dirty clothes.
  
       The findings of this study showed that, over time, as the ACEs increased, so did the risk for the following for the child(ren):
  
  • Alcoholism and alcohol abuse
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Depression
  • Fetal death
  • Health-related quality of life
  • Illicit drug use
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Liver disease
  • Poor work performance
  • Financial stress
  • Risk for intimate partner violence
  • Multiple sexual partners
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • Smoking
  • Suicide attempts
  • Unintended pregnancies
  • Early initiation of smoking
  • Early initiation of sexual activity
  • Adolescent pregnancy
  • Risk for sexual violence
  • Poor academic achievement

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
   
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  To combat these ACEs, children need, safe, stable, nurturing environments so that children are able to reach their full potential.  This is the reason that the Hutchinson Community Foundation brought this film and discussion to the community.  They want to know what we can do as a community, and what resources are needed, to support positive family environments in our area.