Understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Impact and Support

Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Impact and Support

What Are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?

Adverse childhood experiences, commonly referred to as ACEs, are traumatic events that occur in a child's life before the age of 18. ACEs are often categorized into three main groups: abuse, neglect, household dysfunction and/or homelessness. Within these groupings are more specific types of ACEs such as physical abuse, emotional neglect, substance misuse, and divorce or separation. These early traumatic experiences can significantly impact a child’s growth, development, and overall well-being.

The Effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences

ACEs have profound impacts on a child’s life, both in the present and for the future. Research indicates that children exposed to ACEs are more likely to struggle with mental and physical health problems, substance misuse, and academic challenges later in life. Furthermore, the impact of ACEs is cumulative - meaning a higher number of ACEs is linked to increased risks.

Helping Children With High ACE Scores

Addressing the impact of ACEs requires comprehensive, supportive programs designed to provide children with safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments. These programs should be focused on reducing the occurrence of ACEs, mitigating their effects, and improving the child's resilience.

Schools and community organizations play an instrumental role in implementing these programs. They provide safe spaces, counseling services, mentorship programs, and resources for parents and caregivers to better understand and address the effects of ACEs.

TIME for Me Mentoring: Making a Difference

Research shows mentoring to be a positive experience in a youth’s life and decreases the incidence of delinquency. 

Consider: TIME for Me (link to website) or Trauma-Informed Mentoring for Excellence is a program at Ryves Youth Center, where girls and boys, ages 9-17, are matched with approved Catholic Charities volunteer mentors. The mentor-mentee relationship is exercised in weekly meetings averaging four or more hours per month. 

A large number of the youth attending Ryves have experienced at least one, if not several ACEs in their young life. All TIME for Me mentors are required to complete training prior to meeting their mentee. This provides a heightened awareness and sensitivity about potential homelessness, cultural differences, varied guardian and household dynamics, substance abuse issues and more. This also helps mentors explore their biases and perhaps unawareness towards poverty and its dimensions. Mentors are trained on an on-going basis throughout the year. Two mandatory training sessions are completed by each mentor.

TIME for Me at Ryves Youth Center fosters one-on-one relationships on-site for one hour a week for 12 months. The one year minimum mentoring relationship provides consistency and reliability the child craves and often becomes extremely transformative in their development. Consistency and reliability are important aspects of Trauma Informed Care which help the mentees start to heal and move forward with greater aspirations. 

Research shows mentoring to be a positive experience in a youth’s life and decreases the incidence of delinquency. In addition to trauma informed care, the mentors are prepared with Developmental Assets from the Search Institute.

Here at Catholic Charities Terre Haute, we provide help and create hope by nourishing the minds, bodies, and spirits of children, families, adults, and seniors. By collaborating with community partners, we provide nutritious food, safe shelter, quality youth programming, and essential personal and household needs to our neighbors. Donate today to support meaningful community change and learn more about all of our programs here!