Understanding ACEs and PACEs

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

• Traumatic or challenging events that have happened during the ages of 0-17
• Can lead to:
  • Mental illness
  • Long-term physical health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and more
  • Substance use disorders
• Examples:
• Experiencing abuse or neglect
• Having an incarcerated parent or caregiver
• Witnessing violence (at home or in the community)
• Growing up in a household with substance abuse or mental illness

The good news is that there are things you can do to protect a child’s mental health, even if they’ve experienced ACEs or other difficulties.

Protective and Compensatory Experiences (PACEs)

• Also called protective factors
  • Examples include:
    • Strong social support system
    • Participating in community activities
    • Positive mindset and coping strategies
  • Can increase resilience and boost a child’s mental well-being and mental health
  • Help decrease the risk of mental illness, reduce the effects of stress and improve mental health
    • They also protect them from risk factors, such as being bullied or from exposure to violence.

How Protective Factors Help

Protective factors help children build positive relationships with family, friends, teachers and community members. They support kids in developing high self-esteem, problem-solving skills and coping skills.

How to Build Protective Factors

Family relationships and your home environment are important protective factors. Additional protective factors include:

• A sense of safety
• Consistent routines
• Providing a stable environment
• Having clear expectations
• Building a relationship with your kids that is open, honest and non-judgmental

By building these protective factors, children will know they can come to you when they’re struggling with a problem, rather than seeking advice from someone who may be a negative influence.

Others Who Can Support Protective Factors

Other trusted adults can help provide protective factors. Encourage them to build positive relationships with:

• Teachers
• Coaches
• Counselors
• Faith-based trusted adults
• Peers
• Friends and neighbors

Other Protective Factors

• Celebrating your family’s cultural heritage, whether at home or with a larger community helps instill pride in your child.
• School activities, like clubs, team sports or the school play, can build new skills and develop self-confidence.
• Mentorship programs, career academies and part-time jobs offer teens the opportunity to take on new responsibilities in a safe space.
• Positive self-talk and self-praise help children recognize their own self-worth.
• A healthy diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep promotes physical health so they can handle emotional challenges.
• Managing stress in a healthy way, such as exercising, talking to friends or doing other positive activities.

When To Seek Help

Kids may sometimes still need help despite having many protective factors. Seek help from a therapist if:

• Your child seems anxious, depressed or showing more disruptive behaviors
• They're self-isolating or hanging out with kids who are encouraging them to try things that are harmful or dangerous

Meeting with a therapist may help them learn how to become more positive, self-confident and resilient.

Anyone can benefit from protective factors - it’s never too late to start!

This brochure was funded by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control Division of Overdose Prevention (DOP) National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC).

References

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Fast Facts: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences, https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html