Building resilience and fighting childhood adversity. We are Joining Forces for Children.
We are a collective of educators, health care professionals, community members and more who work to prevent and reverse the effects of child traumas such as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Our goal is to brighten the future for children, their families, and our communities.
Understanding ACEs:
ACEs are traumatic events that can have negative, lasting effects on the health and well-being of children now and in the future.¹ ACEs include: abuse, neglect, family & household dysfunction and other experiences.
Persistent exposure to one or more ACEs as a child or adolescent can cause prolonged activation of the body’s stress response to frequent, intense situations/events. This response triggers toxic stress. It is this toxic stress that, when not properly addressed and reduced, can lead to many learning and behavioral issues as a child as well as many common life-threatening health conditions as an adult.2
With Two or More ACEs
National
22.6%
25.8%
33.3%3
Local Stories
Success comes in many forms. Explore some of the local stories that inspire us every day.
Supportive relationships are a step toward resilience.
ACEs and other childhood traumas are never easy subjects to address. With a deeper understanding of the causes and consequences of ACEs on young minds and bodies, we can work to prevent toxic stress and build resilience to protect children from these outcomes. We have the power to make this change. Strong and resilient families, neighborhoods, schools, and children can help reduce the impact of ACEs.
You can make a difference.
ACEs affect everyone, whether directly or indirectly, and we need everyone’s help to prevent and reduce the impact of ACEs on children in our community. No matter who you are or what group or agency you represent, you can make a difference.
Click on the links below to see how improved outcomes can come from your community.
Explore our ‘What are ACEs?” page to see how you can help battle childhood adversity every day.
Contact Us
If you’d like more information on how you could help, or would like to get involved directly, fill out the form below. Together, we can help improve the future for our children.
1. Felitti, V.J., Anda, R.F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D.F., Spitz, A.M., Edwards, V., & Koss, M. P. (1998) Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American journal of Preventive Medicine 14(4), 245-258
2. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2005/2014). Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing Brain: Working Paper No. 3. Updated Edition. Retrieved from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/
3. Child & Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative (2014). “Adverse Childhood Experiences among Cincinnati and Ohio’s Children.” Data Resource Center, supported by Cooperative Agreement 1-U59-MC0680-01 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Health Resources & Services Administration, Maternal & Child Health Bureau. Retrieved from http://www.childhealthdata.com. Revised on 4/13/17.