Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic experiences. Children are especially vulnerable to ACEs. Prolonged exposure to trauma, as well as to things like racism and community violence, can create toxic stress, which can damage children’s developing brain and body and affect long-term health.
ACEs represent a public health crisis. In fact, cumulative adversity is a root cause to some of the most harmful, persistent, and expensive health challenges facing California and the nation, including 9 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States.