Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
adverse childhood exPERIENCEs
ACEs are traumatic events during childhood such as abuse, neglect, and witnessing violence in the home or community.
Our Research and Practice Action Teams (RPATs) are topical areas of focus.
ACEs can dramatically disrupt a child’s sense of safety and stability and wellbeing and can include growing up in a household with substance use and mental health problems, experiencing homelessness and lack of food to eat, and discrimination. ACEs are linked to physical health and mental health problems and other challenges later in life.
Reports and policy briefs
Blog posts
Our partners in ACEs prevention
Our ACEs team includes a UI Research Team Lead and a Practice Team Lead:
- Aislinn Conrad, LMSW, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
- Lisa Cushatt, Executive Director, Iowa ACEs 360 Coalition
Resilience and Trauma-Informed Perspectives
The UI Promote Resiliency Initiative aims to increase education, research, and awareness of ACEs on campus. The UI offers a undergraduate Certificate in Resilience and Trauma-Informed Perspectives.