What is ACE?
The single greatest unaddressed public health threat facing our nation today
Dr. Robert Block, former President of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)
Released in 1998, the ACE Study is one of the most important public health studies in American history. Conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, it examined the long term effects of childhood trauma on adults.
Researchers surveyed over 17,000 adults (mostly caucasian and college educated) about ten specific adverse childhood experiences, including physical , emotional, and sexual abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction such as parental substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence and divorce.
The results were stunning. Two out of three adults had experienced at least one ACE, and one in six had experienced four or more. The study revealed a powerful "dose-response" relationship: the higher a person's ACE score, the greater their risk for chronic diseases, mental illness, addiction, social problems and early death.
The ACE Study proved that childhood trauma is not just a personal issue, it is a major public health crisis that affects every aspect of society, from families to government budgets.
ACE Pyramid
Why ACE is a Keystone Issue
Strong Families Destroyed by Trauma
The data shows that trauma is highly intergenerational. A 2023 UCLA study proved that parents with high ACE scores are significantly more likely to pass behavioral disruptions, instability, and fractured relationships onto their children, causing compounding cycle of family breakdown.
Free Enterprise Stifled by Trauma
The CDC reports that trauma directly reduces a person's educational and employment potential. Furthermore, ACE-related health consequences and lost productivity drain an astronomical $14.1 trillion annually from the U.S. economy. Trauma literally suffocates opportunity and creativity.
Government Exploded by Trauma
When families fracture, the State expands to fill the void. According to a 2026 Casey Foundation report, individuals prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system had an average ACE score of 6.31 out of 10. Studies by the FBI and NIH confirm that childhood trauma builds the direct pipeline to prison and welfare dependence, forcing the growth of government to manage social chaos.
Faith Eroded by Trauma
Clinical research published by Psychiatry Online shows that severe childhood trauma alters a child's concept of God, often manifesting as deep-seated core beliefs that they are unworthy of love or that God is abusive. This fundamentally disrupts their capacity for deep faith engagement and moral grounding.
