The Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Framework is a tool state and territorial health agency (S/THA) leadership can use to intervene using systems levers to prevent and address ACEs by providing safe, stable, nurturing environments for children. The framework includes strategic objectives relating to the system levers of data, policy, financing, messaging, and partnerships.
Objectives:
- Promote a systems-level approach to preventing adverse childhood experiences.
- Provide health leadership with evidence-based tools and resources to achieve public health prevention strategies and interventions.
- Emphasize strategies that concurrently work to curtail the adverse effects of COVID-19.
Data
What data are states using to track and monitor ACEs, and how are they using this data to prevent and limit ACEs?
Since there is a wide range of contributing issues related to ACEs, multiple data sources are needed to track and monitor trends actively. To learn more about how states are utilizing data to inform ACEs prevention efforts, click each topic below to view a list of related resources.
- Take stock of ACEs data collection sources
- Utilize data for monitoring and surveillance
- Strengthen data-informed programming
- Use data to evaluate the impact of prevention efforts
Policy
What policies are states and territories implementing to support children and their families?
Policies that center and support families should be considered when using a systems-level approach to preventing ACEs. To learn more about policies that support children and their families, click each topic below to view a list of related resources.
- Strengthen economic supports to families
- Create family-friendly work policies
- Offer access to safe, stable housing
- Provide high-quality childcare
- Address food insecurity by strengthening support systems, such as WIC and SNAP
Financing
How are states and territories funding their ACEs prevention work?
States and territories establish and maintain consistent funding to support comprehensive ACEs prevention efforts by considering traditional and nontraditional funding sources, as well as braiding and layering techniques. To learn more about how states and territories are funding their ACEs prevention work, click each topic below to view a list of related resources.
Messaging
How are states communicating about ACEs and supporting programs that teach concrete skills, reduce stigma, and help children and parents cope with adversity?
Translating the implications and nuances of data into actionable preventive efforts and policies and securing funding to support these efforts are necessary to drive meaningful impact in communities. To learn more about messaging strategies for ACEs prevention, click each topic below to view a list of related resources.
- Create public education campaigns
- Encourage social norms that protect against violence and adversity
- Enhance social-emotional learning for children
- Provide parenting skills and family relationship approaches
- Support resiliency and coping mechanisms for children and parents
- Enhance early childhood home visitation
Cross-Sectoral Partnerships
How are different sectors working together to prevent ACEs and/or limit their harm?
The scope of topics encapsulated within ACEs is broad, and therefore, collaboration and coordination with partners are essential to prevention efforts. To learn more about strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships for ACEs prevention, click each topic below to view a list of related resources.
COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to be a significant stressor for families and their children. S/THA leadership should consider leveraging emerging policies, programs, and practices from the COVID-19 response that have the potential to prevent ACEs both in the immediate future and long-term.