What if you were told there is something that could put you at risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, depression, suicide and premature death? It may be too late for you, but learning about it now can help you understand your risk and help prevent it for others.
What is it, you ask? Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs.
When Dr. Vincent Felitti became aware of the relationship between childhood trauma and serious health problems in his patients, he worked with the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a study of more than 17,000 adults. The study included a list of questions asking if a person had experienced any of these before age 18:
• Physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
• Physical or emotional neglect.
• A caregiver with mental illness or substance use disorder.
• Parental separation.
• An incarcerated relative.
• Witnessing domestic violence.
After analyzing patients’ responses and medical histories, the study found that more than half of participants had experienced at least one ACE and that for each ACE experienced, there was a significant increase in the risk for heart disease, stroke, cancer, depression, and suicide and up to 20 years less life expectancy.
Some may say that this makes sense, that trauma occurs more in places with high rates of poverty, violence and lack of access to health care. But even controlling for factors such as alcohol, tobacco and other substance use, family andgenetic risks, race, income and access to health care, those who had experienced ACES had higher risk for medical complications compared to those who had not experienced them. In fact, the first ACE study participants were mostly white, middle-class, college-educated people with access to good health care. Plus, the results have been replicated many times since with varied populations.
Of course, the landmark study didn’t include everything. Missing are stressors found outside the household — like lack of resources, racism and discrimination, or community violence — protective factors and individual differences. Though the ACE study demonstrates a strong link between ACES and later health problems, not everyone who has ACEs will have chronic health problems, and people who haven’t experienced ACES can still develop serious health issues.
So what can we do about it? Positive childhood experiences refer to experiences where a child feels safe, connected and supported. These can decrease risk for those exposed to ACEs and increase resiliency and well-being for those who experience them, regardless of their ACE score. The CDC lists these concrete protective factors that help create PCEs:
• Strengthening economic supports to families.
• Promoting social norms that protect against violence and adversity.
• Quality child care and educational supports for families and children.
• Teaching social-emotional, relationship and parenting skills.
• Connecting youth to caring adults and activities.
• Intervening to reduce immediate and long-term harms.
This is especially important to know for our community, since Cortland County had more than twice the indicated reports of child abuse/maltreatment than the New York State average during 2016-2020, as shown in the most recent Community Health Assessment.
Cortland Prevention Resources has free programs to help prevent ACEs and create PCEs for children. Program facilitators serve as positive role models and safe adults for children to connect to. In the Too Good for Drugs program, children learn how to identify and cultivate positive relationships both with peers and adults and develop skills for communicating when they are in difficult situations. Parenting programs are educational tools that help caregivers develop their parenting skills to be able to create safe and caring relationships and environments for children. Compass pairs kids with SUNY Cortland student mentors to create positive relationships with peers while participating in team activities. Girls Circle and Boys Council create similar safe spaces for youth to connect with peers of the same gender.
While we may not be able to prevent all ACEs, we all have the power to help create positive experiences for kids in Cortland. If you would like to know more, call 607-756-8970 or visit www.cortlandprevention.org.
Bailey Marks is a contributing writer for Cortland Prevention Resources, a division of Family and Children’s Counseling Services.
