Adverse Childhood Experiences: Policy and Program Review

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction that occur during childhood (before age 18) and have a negative and lasting impact on future health and functioning.

For this review, researchers focused on the top six ACEs that are challenging in Arizona compared to other states:

• Poverty
• Divorce or Separation
• Neighborhood Violence
• Domestic Violence
• Mental Illness in Families
• Parental Incarceration

 Highlighted policies and programs were selected based on a variety of factors including recommended practices based on literature, experts, and effectiveness of programs according to evaluations or randomized control trials. The policy review, while not comprehensive, seeks to highlight some of the effective, unique, and innovative policies and programs that states are employing to reduce or mitigate the impact of ACEs.

ACE Program Review Executive Summary

Adverse Childhood Experiences Full Report