Adverse Childhood Events and Trauma-Informed Care

Adverse childhood events (ACEs), potentially traumatic events that are experienced by individuals before the age of 18 years, were first linked to long-term health outcomes in the 1998 landmark CDC-Kaiser ACE study. This study showed a dose–response relationship between ACE exposure and adult health risk behaviors and diseases. Subsequent studies found that ACE exposure is greater in minority and lower-income populations and is associated with a myriad of adult health conditions, including behavioral health diagnoses. Screening for ACEs is currently done at the national, state, and community levels, and continue to show high levels of ACE exposure first witnessed in the original CDC-Kaiser study, highlighting the chronic and profound levels of trauma within our society. By screening for ACEs, we can provide social resources and interventions that can mitigate the long-term health effects caused by trauma. Further, we can promote trauma-informed care (TIC) practices, which are patient-centered approaches to care delivery and have been shown to improve patient retention and engagement.