On the heels of AFMC’s ACEs & Resilience Summit, we’re revisiting ACEs. Has the definition changed? Have we learned more about ACEs’ effect on future health outcomes? What new tools exist to help build resilience? For answers to all these questions and more, read on.
Has the Definition of ACEs Changed over Time?
All the way back in 1998, the Kaiser Foundation released a groundbreaking study about the relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The study outlined 10 types of childhood dysfunction, which later came to be understood as the foundations of ACEs.
ACEs are foundationally understood as physical, emotional, mental, and domestic trauma. Over time, however, the definition has expanded to include other environmental factors, such as exposure to war or community violence, bullying, cyberbullying, and living in under-resourced communities.
Anything traumatic that a child experiences at a particular point in their life can have a huge impact on their growth, especially when they are developing a lot and needing to form secure attachments with adults who then form the environment that they grow up and develop in,” — Dr. Chad Rodgers, Chief Medical Officer, AFMC
ACEs also affect our relationships, coping skills, and behaviors in our social and personal environments.
Why Do ACEs Still Matter in 2025?
Health systems across the U.S. have turned their focus to preventing health complications down the road. Preventive care, regular screenings, vaccines, meditation, and counseling are all known to reduce healthcare costs and enable patients to live longer, healthier lives. And now more than ever, healthcare professionals are doing more to identify and address patients’ needs beyond their physical and mental health. Why? Because external and environmental factors, sometimes called social determinants of health (SDOH), directly affect health risks.
ACEs work the same way—many SDOH are the root cause of ACEs, leading to negative repercussions in the future.
Discover more about the ACEs to SDOH connection.
We know from long-term studies that ACEs have impacts on both mental health and physical health. Things like drug use, diabetes, and even cancer can all trace back to early childhood trauma. — Dr. Chad Rodgers, Chief Medical Officer, AFMC
ACEs give health professionals clues into where behavioral and physical health problems may have originated. This knowledge equips them with the tools to germinate bigger, better seeds or uproot the pesky weeds altogether.
Learn more about the link between ACEs and poor health outcomes.
What Can ACEs Teach Us about Child Behavior?
Children living with unaddressed trauma may struggle in school and act out at home. These behaviors often stem from survival instincts switched on by chronic stress. A child’s brain is wired to react, not reflect.
When kids are traumatized, they have an instinct to survive. We all have had that moment when we’re scared, our heart rate goes up, and we start sweating. In those moments, we’re not using our thinking brain. We just react. — Dr. Chad Rodgers, Chief Medical Officer, AFMC
In these situations, children are in survival mode. Nobody is present to help them regulate negative emotions, calm them down, or teach them more appropriate behaviors for responding to stress.
Modern stressors, like cyberbullying, exposure to harmful content online, and loss of digital privacy, add fuel to the fire. While social media and the Internet have enabled people to make connections with like-minded individuals, it has also perpetuated the U.S. mental health crisis.
Explore the ways social media affects mental health.
Who Else Plays a Role in Addressing ACEs?
Not every child who experiences trauma develops long-term issues. Supportive relationships, safe environments, and access to mental health care build resilience.
Schools, caregivers, friends, communities, and anyone with a vested interest in the health and well-being of children play a role in buffering the effects of trauma.
When we build resilience, we give children the tools to rise above adversity. But that starts with adults being present, aware, and supportive.
Here’s how ACEs influence addiction—and how resilience helps.
What Tools Are Out There to Build Resilience against ACEs?
AFMC’s ACEs & Resilience Summit is one of the best community networking and resilience-building events in central Arkansas. We bring together education, law enforcement, healthcare, and mental health professionals to discuss the latest strategies and initiatives for building resilience statewide.
Check out the speakers and topics we covered in the 2025 summit.
We’re going all out for the 10th annual summit in 2026, so be sure to keep your eyes out for more information. We hope to see you there!
In the clinic, you can take steps to learn more about patients’ ACEs and how they can build a strong support system to tackle adversity.
- Take the ACEs Quiz
- Use the PEARLs Screening Tool for Children and Adults
- Download the Resilience Guide
- Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with you?” ask, “What happened to you?”
- Join the AFMC PACEs Coalition to gain insights from leaders across Arkansas.
- Enroll in trauma-informed PACEs program training.
Final Thoughts
Adverse childhood experiences don’t define a child’s future, but how we respond to them can. By recognizing the signs of trauma, advocating for safe environments, and supporting resilience-building strategies, we can help children heal, grow, and thrive.
Whether you’re a teacher, parent, health care provider, or community member, your role matters. Our work starts with awareness and continues with action. By breaking the cycle of trauma and supporting our children’s futures, we can build a healthier, more resilient community for all.
