BACKGROUNDERS — CDC’s ACE STUDY
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ACE Study site— From the site: “Childhood abuse, neglect, and exposure to other traumatic stressors which we term adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are common. Almost two-thirds of our study participants reported at least one ACE, and more than one of five reported three or more ACE. The short- and long-term outcomes of these childhood exposures include a multitude of health and social problems.”
ACE Study DVD — The video above is an introduction to a DVD that contains four hours of presentations by and interviews with Dr. Robert Anda and Dr. Vincent Felitti, co-founders of the ACE Study. The DVD also has an interview with Dr. David Williams, a CDC researcher who introduced Felitti and Anda, and also contributed to the project. All provide information about the genesis of the research, its findings, its impact, and how it might be implemented. Dr. Frank Putnam, a child psychiatrist and director of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, provides his view of the impact of the research. A high-quality production, the DVD is divided into chapters. You can order it from the Academy on Violence and Abuse.
BACKGROUNDERS — NEUROBIOLOGY
Alberta Family Wellness Initiative’s Brain Development & Addiction online learning modules. This is a very thorough set of modules that include text documents, presentations and videos. The modules include brain architecture & development; early experiences & gene expression; building cognitive, emotional and social capacities; positive, tolerable & toxic stress; brain plasticity & behavioural change; interventions & treatments in children’s mental health; the development of addiction; different kinds of addiction; prevention, intervention & treatment of addiction; policy implications. Each of these modules has several parts. The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative focuses on the Canadian community; the modules draw from contributions of experts in Canada and the U.S., and its content is applicable in any country.
BACKGROUNDERS — EPIGENETICS
What is epigenetics? – described by the Genetic Science Learning Center at the University of Utah. How does epigenetics work? — Check out this fabulous animation — specifically the second part of the five-part explanation — put together by the folks at NOVA, who produced an episode about epigenetics: Ghost in Your Genes. A shorter version is on NOVA’s Science Now.
ONLINE COURSES
Alberta Family Wellness Initiative’s Brain Development & Addiction online learning modules. This is a very thorough set of modules that include text documents, presentations and videos. The modules include brain architecture & development; early experiences & gene expression; building cognitive, emotional and social capacities; positive, tolerable & toxic stress; brain plasticity & behavioural change; interventions & treatments in children’s mental health; the development of addiction; different kinds of addiction; prevention, intervention & treatment of addiction; policy implications. Each of these modules has several parts. The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative focuses on the Canadian community; the modules draw from contributions of experts in Canada and the U.S., and its content is applicable in any country.
Washington State Family Policy Council ACE Course. This course, which costs $29, covers brain science, the CDC’s ACE Study, and resilience research. According to the course site, “Participants will learn about the prevalence and high cost lifelong outcomes of ACEs, the vital role of culture and community to optimize wellbeing, and how to use this emerging research to create transformative conversations.” Preview the course.
PRESENTATIONS
Dr. Robert Anda
- The Wide-Ranging Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Connecting the Developmental Lens to the Health of Our Society, May 31, 2011, for the Alberta (Canada) Family Wellness Initiative, 53 minutes.
- Also, a presentation for the University of Nebraska School of Public Health, June 5, 2012.
Dr. Vincent Felitti
- The Origins of Addiction, Oct. 17, 2011, for the Alberta (Canada) Family Wellness Initiative, 50 minutes (the presentation PDF is here).
- Chicago Safe Start, video of presentation, in six segments.
- Bomb in the Brain, Part Two — a 70-minute interview with Stefan Molyneux of Freedomain Radio (on YouTube).
- All in the Family, a 54-minute interview with Mary O’Connell, producer of CBC Radio’s Ideas program.
ACEs Too High 
Thank you dear people and colleagues for the wonderful and important work you are doing.
Warm regards from
Dr. Alberto Zucconi
Person Centered Approach Institute
Rome, Italy
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I have made a tool to quickly determine your ACE score: https://acescore.zpf.io/
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I am a classroom teacher. Over the years I’ve worked with many children impacted by a wide array of trauma. Is anyone aware of an app that allows you to choose an intervention based on behavior or trauma experience?
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In the UK there is Motional (motional.io). Your school needs to subscribe, but it allows all the adults involved with a child to enter ‘snapshots’ of how they experience that child, then gives a picture of what areas need support, what their strengths are, and what specific interventions would help. I don’t know if there is anything like it in the US.
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[…] aware of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) thanks to James Redford’s film “Resilience,” allowed me to see the […]
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I was very disappointed to read in the article the section about children who experienced the “divorce, death, or abandonment”, that “death” was not included in the ACES 10 questions, #6 only asked if “parents were separated or divorced”. My daughter lost her father at 5yrs old and this was the most traumatizing experience of her life. If I had her do the ACES test, she would not be able to put a 1 down for that trauma.
I am a licensed counselor and only recently learned of this study and believe the findings. I took the test and came out with a 2. But again, very disappointed that “death”, a final, traumatic experience in childhood, was left out.
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That doesn’t mean experiencing the loss of a parent through death isn’t an ACE. It just wasn’t included in the original 10 ACEs, which were chosen based on a combination of what the original pilot study revealed, as well as existing research. Subsequent ACE surveys include that and many other experiences. Basically any traumatic experience that causes toxic stress and damages the structure and function of a kid’s developing brain is an ACE.
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I work at a clinic who asks the ACE as a part of the intake assessment. I can’t seem to find online or through anyone at my organization, the informational sheet on emotional, physical and sexual abuse we are supposed to provide to the client, according to WAC 388-877B0400 (4)(c)(i). Can you please send a link or PDF of this document?
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I have been looking for the original (Long form) questionnaire that was used in the study. Is this available somewhere? I would like to take the test for myself.
Thanks
Carie Hughey
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Here you go: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/
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We are using the ACEs in a research study but would like to use the 10-item short form. Is there a citation for the reliability and validity of the short-form vs the 70-item version?
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The 9-question version has been used in the CDC’s BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) ACE modules for 35 states. It’s also been used, with another 4 questions added in the Philadelphia Urban ACE Study.
See: http://www.acesconnection.com/g/state-aces-action-group/blog/behavioral-risk-factor-surveillance-system-brfss
and http://www.acesconnection.com/g/state-aces-action-group/blog/state-ace-survey-reports
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I’m doing my Masters Research in Mumbai, India; I have used your ACE and Resilience tool. I have 1 questions.
1. How should I cite the resilience tool given on your website?
I’d appreciate a prompt response.
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Hi, Shiromi: You can cite it this way: Resilience survey developed by team from Southern Kennebec Healthy Start in Augusta, Maine, USA, in 2006. Posted on ACEsTooHigh.com in 2012.
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Dear Jane,
I’m using it for an academic research and so it needs to follow the APA format. Could you please help me with the same?
An early response will be helpful since the submission is due in a week.
Thank you.
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I don’t know what the APA format is, so feel free to use what I’ve sent you and modify it, Shiromi!
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Do you need permission to use it when collecting data for a dissertation?
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Nope!
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[…] Resources about ACEs can be found at ACEsTooHigh.com […]
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Is there a directory for primary care providers who are connected to the ACEs too High community or are providing care informed by the impact of ACEs?
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Not here, but you may be able to find some on ACEs Connection, the companion social network to ACEs Too High. There’s more happening in pediatrics than with primary care providers, but that sector is beginning to become aware of this and integrate practices based on ACEs science, too.
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Hi,
What books do you suggest for an adult to read to learn how to become resilient. I agree with all I have read, so I am looking for what I can do to help myself, not read more on the science.
Thank you,
Susan
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Donna Jackson Nakazawa’s book, Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology and How You Can Heal is a good start, Susan.
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I am listening to this book on Audible right now and I can’t say there is anything yet that is helpful information about building resilience. So far, it’s depressing as hell to learn of all the many ways we are damaged by ACEs. I really look forward to reading/listening to the sections on building resiliency. Thank you in advance.
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Susan, my name is Leslie Peters RN and I have an ACE’S score of 7. Several years ago I started to work on healing and reversing the effects of ACES. I created
“Stuck in Our Stories No More” which is a step by step guide on how I achieved this. If you are interested email Info@WomenNotAlone.com
“Your Story is Your Gift”
I’m gratitude, Leslie
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Hi Susan, I have a blog called Crappy Childhood Fairy (www.crappychildhoodfairy.com), it draws on ACE literature and weaves it in with my own experiences and what I teach other who want strategies to stay “regulated,” make changes and build a better life. Courses coming soon. I invite you to check it out.
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I am a PhD student working on my dissertation. I would like to use the ACE questionnaire in my research. I read in previous request in this section that the instrument is free and can be used by anyone. Please confirm this is still the case.
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That is indeed the case; it’s free and anyone can use it.
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Linda,
You can use the ten-question checklist, but that was created about three years after the original ACE Study was completed. To see the full six-page (70 question) questionnaires (male and female versions), visit the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/acestudy/about.html
Good luck with your research!
Debbie
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Hi, my name is Leslie Peters RN. I am working on a project, Voices that Matter, that is a collection of conversations with women about issues of the human condition: love, trust, shame,guilt, self-identified, confidence and more. These are the “Faces of ACE’s. If these wou ld help your research please reach out!
You can find them on YouTube.com/WomenNotAlone, Conversations that Matter or on http://www.WomenNotAlone.com
Info@WomenNotAlone.com
In gratitude, Leslie
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[…] ACEsTooHigh https://acestoohigh.com/resources/ […]
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How do I find a psychotherapist in the suburbs of Philadelphia that is trained in ACE? I am a 78 year old female with a score of 8. Preferably on the Main Line. I have been in therapy for 20 years and still have major issues.with attachment and abandonment. Thanks for considering this request.
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Hi, Nikki:
First, I’m very sorry that you had to experienced all that trauma in your childhood.
The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies has a “search for clinicians” section — https://www.istss.org/find-a-clinician.aspx
And Psychology Today has “find a therapist” section — https://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/
I’d look for someone who’s familiar with ACEs science and trauma-informed practices.
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How does someone become trained and certified in ACEs and trauma informed practice? Thank you.
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Thanks for your question. Do you mean as a therapist? Or in some other profession, such as a teacher? I suggest joining our companion social network, ACEs Connection, where you can peruse the resources and contact people who are integrating ACEs science into their work.
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I’m currently in school for my Bachelors in Social Work. My concentration is Substance Abuse Counseling. So I am asking as a Counselor. I did click the link you mentioned and see it has lots of information, however I don’t know how to connect with others. Thanks!
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Hello,
Under your Tab called “Got you Ace Score?” there is a Resilience questionnaire. Can I obtain permission to use it as part of my dissertation. I am a doctoral student at the University of Pittsburgh.
Thanks
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Yes, it’s free for anyone to use, Kimberly.
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And just how do we get a copy of the AVA 4 hour DVD? the link is no longer working…
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Here’s the link: http://www.avahealth.org/
Thanks for letting me know the other one isn’t working. I’ll fix it.
Cheers, Jane
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I would like your permission to use the Aces Score sheet in my dissertation. I am a doctoral student at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. My email address is djw244@lionmail.lindenwood.edu.
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Hi, Dora:
The ACE questionnaire can be used by anyone, because it came out of the CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study, which was funded by our tax dollars. Just provide the link to the CDC’s ACE Study site.
Cheers, Jane
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Here’s an hour and a half talk that Vincent gave a few years ago. It only has 5000 views.
What would the world be like if that video got as many views as Psy’s “Gangnam Style?”
A fan.
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What a concept!!!
btw, Mark, most of his video presentations are on ACEsConnection.
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[…] Resources section of the site provides links to useful presentations, backgrounders, reports, and ACE concepts in the […]
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The Academy on Violence and Abuse has created a fine DVD of a presentation and discussion of the ACE Study, its history, and its implications. The DVD is almost 4 hours long and is an excellent overview of where we are at present, including the resistance to incorporating this information in routine clinical practice. A very favorable review of this DVD is in the August 15, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association; it may be read on the AVA web site. Members of this blog wishing to obtain a copy will find details on the AVA web site.
Vincent
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[…] Resources […]
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