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New Data on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

2019

This 5-minute videotape recording features Dr. Bart Klika, the Chief Research and Strategy Officer for Prevent Child Abuse America, discussing findings from a research review on studies exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). He highlights studies that examined the effectiveness of interventions that address biological markers and the physical health of children and adolescents affected by adversity; pediatric healthcare interventions to improve outcomes for children exposed to ACEs; screening practices for ACEs and outcomes associated with routine enquiry for ACEs; and an assessment of the original ACE study. Findings indicate intervention are able to stabilize or improve the biological impairments associated with ACEs, the most effective interventions were multicomponent, had medium to high intensity service delivery, improved behavioral and mental health outcomes, and improved parent-child relationships, there may be unnecessary harm caused by ACE enquiry, and the ACE index fails to include many dimensions of childhood adversity derived from social inequalities, underplays the effects of adversity throughout childhood and across generations, fails to examine protective factors, and there is a lack of policy approaches to prevention. 4 references.