Adverse Childhood Experiences in Michigan, 2011-2012

What is an adverse childhood experience? Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are childhood events that negatively impact the child’s future. ACEs include: Verbal, psychological, physical, or sexual abuse (witness or victim); Living with household members who are substance abusers, mentally ill, suicidal or ever incarcerated; Living in a household with poor economic resources or with parents who got divorced or separated after the child was born; and Child exposed to racial or ethnic discrimination. ACEs have been linked to a range of poor health outcomes in adulthood, including substance abuse, depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and premature mortality. ACEs reflect current childhood experiences that impact health and have the potential to predict future individual and intergenerational health and social outcomes.