December, 2011

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

Bridging the gap between childhood trauma and negative consequences later in life.

What’s an ACE?

Growing up experiencing any of the following conditions in the household prior to age 18:

The ACE Study is an ongoing collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente.  Led by Co-principal Investigators Robert F. Anda, MD, MS, and Vincent J. Felitti, MD, the ACE Study is perhaps the largest scientific research study of its kind, analyzing the relationship between multiple categories of childhood trauma (ACEs), and health and behavioral outcomes later in life.

  1. Recurrent physical abuse
  2. Recurrent emotional abuse
  3. Contact sexual abuse
  4. An alcohol and/or drug abuser in the household
  5. An incarcerated household member
  6. Someone who is chronically depressed, mentally ill, institutionalized, or suicidal
  7. Mother is treated violently
  8. One or no parents
  9. Emotional or physical neglect

 

The ACE Score

The ACE Study used a simple scoring method to determine the extent of each study participant’s exposure to childhood trauma.  Exposure to one category (not incident) of ACE, qualifies as one point. When the points are added up, the ACE Score is achieved.  An ACE Score of 0 (zero) would
mean that the person reported no exposure to any of the categories of trauma listed as ACEs above.  An ACE Score of 9 would mean that the person reported exposure to all of the categories of trauma listed above.  The ACE Score is referred to throughout all of the peer-reviewed publications about the ACE Study findings.

 

What’s YOUR ACE Score?  Help me calculate my  ACE Score. 
The ACE Study is based upon data collected from over 17,000 adult participants, and no new study
participants are being accepted.  However, you might like to know your own ACE Score, so that the
information  you read about the Study is more meaningful to

 

Southern Connections

Check out the Southern Regional Children’s Advocacy Center’s Fall Newsletter. The 2012 Core Training Schedule and Course listing is included as well as some important procedural changes.  Southern Connections December 2011

Child Sexual Abuse: Four Steps America Must Take

A recent article out of the Washington Post outlines the 4 steps America needs to take to raise awareness and urge responsible action to end the culture of silence about child abuse in the United States.  To read the full article click here.