How ACEs Impact You, Your Patients, and the Health System July 2, 2024

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have a significant impact on health, especially in the District of Columbia, where 12.8% of children 17 or younger are impacted, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health. These traumatic experiences have devastating effects that impact health and wellbeing not just in childhood but well into adulthood. In fact, the CDC states that at least 5 of the top 10 leading causes of death are associated with ACEs.

Given the long-lasting developmental repercussions of ACEs, MSDC’s Task Force on Family Violence has encouraged physicians of all specialties to better understand ACEs and the impact across the health care spectrum. To assist, members of the Task Force developed a series on ACEs in the District of Columbia in two parts:

• Part 1:  What Every Physician Needs to Know About Trauma-Informed Care:  A microlevel look at ACEs, focusing on the patient-physician relationship and how trauma-informed care can improve patient outcomes for all specialties.
• Part 2: ACEs In Washington, DC – A Macro Perspective: A macrolevel look at ACEs includes policy implications and patient advocacy, with considerations for the District.

Further resources can be found below.

• Health Education About and Advocacy Against Violence and Abuse Across the Lifespan – a global health summit taking place September 12-13, 2024, in Washington, DC.
• Period of Purple Crying – a resource to support prevention of abusive head trauma 
• Stewards of Children – a resource on child sexual abuse  
• Balancing ACES with HOPE - a report on positive childhood experiences 
• SEEK (Safe Environment for Every Kid) – a resource for wellbeing 

If this issue is of interest to you, get involved in MSDC’s Task Force on Family Violence here. The Task Force is open to MSDC members and contributes to policy initiatives covering victim's services, critical health care problems, and educational outreach across the city.