Fostering Resilience after ACEs
Disrupting the Impacts of ACEs
Not everyone who experiences ACEs goes on to have poor outcomes. ACEs are not fatalistic. Positive experiences, especially supportive relationships, can reduce the toxic stress response and lessen the long-term impact of adversity.
Disrupting the impacts of ACEs requires action at multiple levels, including individual support, community programs, and system-level changes. The overall goal is to foster safe, stable, and supportive relationships and environments where children and families can thrive. By strengthening positive experiences and reducing toxic stress, we can support the development of resilient children, families, and communities.
Preventing ACEs
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes prevention as a key strategy for addressing ACEs. Their approach focuses on promoting healthy development through: supporting families and caregivers; prioritizing access to high-quality childcare; connecting children and youth with caring, supportive adults; and implementing early intervention and family support programs.
Positive Childhood Experiences
Research has increasingly focused on the role of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) in supporting lifelong health and well-being. PCEs include feeling safe and protected, participating in community activities and traditions, and having supportive relationships with family members, friends, and mentors.
PCEs help buffer the effects of adversity by strengthening children’s resilience and reducing exposure to toxic stress. In doing so, PCEs promote healthier developmental outcomes and support well-being across the lifespan.