What are adverse childhood experiences?
Adverse childhood experiences are traumatic experiences that happen before the age of 18. Adverse childhood experiences include abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence in the home. These can have a lasting, negative effect on our lives throughout adulthood.
Pages in this section
- Social determinants of health
- Risk and protective factors
- Trauma and toxic stress
- Adverse childhood experiences
- Trauma-informed practices
According to Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data from 2017 to 2018, 59% of Wisconsin residents surveyed reported at least one ACE in the past. And research shows that the more ACEs a person has, the higher their risk for many health challenges later in life.
Fortunately, we can prevent ACEs and their harmful effects. How? By providing children with safe, stable, and nurturing spaces to thrive.
Know the types
Get to know the most common ACE’s that can have a lasting impact on children’s lives.
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Physical abuse
Emotional neglect
Physical neglect
Mental illness
Domestic violence
Substance use
Incarceration of a loved one
Parental separation
Adverse childhood experiences include:
- Abuse: Specifically, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
- Neglect: Both physical and emotional neglect.
- Household trauma: Witnessing violence in the home, substance use, mental illness, separated or divorced parents, or having a caregiver or loved one spend time incarcerated.
Looking for adverse childhood experiences data? We're updating the charts and graphs. New information will be available soon.
