Why ACEs?
The Foundational Study
The first study on ACEs was conducted in 1998 by Dr. Vincent Felitti and colleagues. It was a collaboration between Kaiser-Permanente and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) involving 17,000 adults seeking healthcare. The findings revealed that ACEs can lead to poorer health and social outcomes later in life. The ACE Study was the first large-scale study to show the lasting impact of childhood adversity on health, highlighting the importance of addressing ACEs as a public health issue.
The Legacy of the Foundational Study
Since 1998, there has been a surge in research examining the lasting impacts of ACEs. This research has prompted a major shift towards adopting a trauma-informed approach to care in fields like healthcare, social services, and education.
Research has focused on how ACEs affect individuals, families, and communities, how protective factors can help mitigate these effects, and what interventions can be helpful. Scientific evidence then informs decision-making in clinical practice, public health programs, social services, and other efforts aimed at preventing and treating ACEs.
Navigating the extensive body of ACEs research can be daunting, which is why we created ACEs hub. It acts as a digest, providing updated information and summaries of key findings in ACEs research.