The Problem: A Costly Epidemic of Childhood Trauma Our children are traumatized. The adverse childhood experience (ACEs) survey is a powerful tool that can reveal the magnitude and severity of adversity and trauma impacting our families, schools and workforces.
Trauma is so pervasive in our society that it takes a rather comprehensive survey just to delineate the types of traumatic events children are experiencing. The adverse childhood experience (ACEs) survey, first published in 1998 as part of the ACEs Study by Doctors Felitti and Anda, asks a person what form of adversity he or she experienced as a child. It’s a checklist of potentially traumatic events with varying degrees of severity. In our book, Anna, Age Eight, we leave the language of academics behind in order to describe most of these experiences as “terrible, horrible, no-good and very bad.” The truth is that ACEs have led to an epidemic of childhood trauma and untreated adult trauma with costly emotional, physical and financial consequences.
With a quick online search, one can learn how the survey is being used with parents, teens and children. Some communities use the results as a call to action, advocating that local government fund trauma-informed behavioral health care in school and community settings. On the other end of the spectrum are government leaders who think that adversity is character-building and if people are traumatized, then they should fix themselves.
ACEs, Trauma and our Children
ACEs impact many of our children. Instead of growing up with joy they endure emotional trauma year after year. Most ACEs fly under the radar of child welfare and schools. Click above to learn their stories.*
*fictional stories
The ACEs survey is finding its way into popular culture – there’s even an app with the ten question survey we know 15 year-olds are using.
The survey that follows may bring up many memories and questions. Depending on your score and form of ACEs, it may also bring up feelings of sadness, fear, anger, confusion and trauma.
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE SURVEY
ONE: Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often push, grab, slap or throw something at you? Or ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
TWO: Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often swear at you, insult you, put you down or humiliate you? Or act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
THREE: Did an adult or person at least five years older than you ever touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? Or attempt, or actually have, oral, anal or vaginal intercourse with you?
FOUR: Did you often or very often feel that no one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special, or that your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other or support each other?
FIVE: Did you often or very often feel that you didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes or had no one to protect you? Or your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed to go?
SIX: Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic? Or who used street drugs?
SEVEN: Was your parent or stepparent often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped or hit by a thrown object? Or sometimes, often, or very often, kicked, bitten, hit with a fist or hit with something hard? Or ever repeatedly hit for at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
EIGHT: Was a household member depressed or mentally ill? Or did a household member attempt suicide?
NINE: Were your parents separated or divorced?
TEN: Did a household member go to prison?
The ACEs survey is not intended to serve as a diagnostic tool. It is provided to promote awareness of ACEs and encourage dialogue about the impact of adversity and potential trauma.
Reflecting on the results
Much is written on what an ACEs score can tell an individual. Currently, there are more than 1,000 books on childhood trauma listed on Amazon, most having a self-help/behavioral health care lens.
In Anna Age Eight, we focus on what the ACEs scores tell us about the city and county we live in, and more importantly, its commitment to the safety of children. We write about the ten vital services needed to prevent ACEs, services that could be put in place in every community if the elected leaders made trauma-free and thriving childhoods a priority. We provide a blueprint for our mayors, city councilors, county commissioners, school board members and state lawmakers to create a seamless local system of safety and trauma-informed care for 100% of our families.
ACEs and Traumatized Students
Instead of learning and socializing at school, in some classrooms a third to three-quarters of students may have three or more ACEs. They may be marginalized at school, perceived by teachers as being disengaged or acting out. Students may worry more about what adversity awaits them at home instead of doing math homework. Click above to learn their stories.*
*fictional stories
Unsurprisingly, the levels of adverse childhood experiences like those listed above can predict to a degree all kinds of risky behavior later on in life. If too many ACEs are experienced during childhood, pretty soon the risk of suicide, alcoholism, illicit drug use, prescription drug misuse, smoking, severe obesity, depression, risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted diseases go through the roof. Untreated trauma caused by ACEs may diminish one’s capacity to learn, acquire and hold down a job, have healthy intimate relationships, and be a successful parent.
Untreated Trauma on Campus
Students arrive to college or university with untreated trauma due to ACEs. Lack of academic achievement and low graduation rates can be the result of untreated trauma and the lack of accessible behavioral health care on campus. Click above to learn their stories.*
*fictional stories
Childhood trauma comes with high emotional and financial costs. There are a host of important questions to consider as we build the infrastructure to end childhood trauma. Consider the following one as a starting point: Are you willing to start a dialogue about trauma with your family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and elected leaders?
Untreated Trauma in the Workplace
Trauma, a result of ACEs, can impact an employee’s work performance and behaviors. Substance misuse and mental health challenges may result from untreated trauma and impact workforce productivity..*
*fictional stories
Next Step
The good news is that ACEs, trauma and social adversity are predictable and preventable. Visit SOLUTION to learn about our groundbreaking strategy.
Contact
For more information on the ACEs survey, research, prevention strategies, and school, campus and workplace policies on ACEs, please contact us.
