Child Sexual abuse prevention IS ACE prevention.

​Childhood trauma can cause pain and distress for years. Violence, abuse, neglect, and facets of the environment such as substance misuse, mental health problems, or instability within the household are considered Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs.
 
Approximately 2/3 of adults report having experienced at least one ACE during childhood, with nearly one-quarter reporting experiencing three or more.

Impacts of ACEs

The potential trauma of ACEs can disrupt healthy brain development, impact social development, compromise immune systems, and can lead to unhealthy coping behaviors such as substance misuse.
ACEs can have lasting impacts on:
Health:
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Depression
  • Suicidality
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • Stroke
  • COPD
  • Broken Bones
Behaviors:
  • Smoking
  • Alcoholism
  • Drug Use
  • Risky sexual behaviors
Life Potential
  • Graduation rates
  • Academic achievement
  • Lost time from work

Preventing ACEs

​Like sexual violence, ACEs are preventable. The CDC has identified several strategies that bolster safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments for kids and help all kids reach their full potential.
 
These strategies are:
  • Strengthening economic supports to families
  • Promoting social norms that protect against violence and adversity
  • Ensuring a strong start for children
  • Teaching skills
  • Connecting youth to caring adults and activities
  • Intervening to lessen immediate and long-term harms
 
The work of sexual violence prevention aligns with promoting the social norms that protect against violence, such as bystander approaches, and teaching skills such as social-emotional learning, empathy, and healthy relationships.