Preventing, identifying, and responding to ACEs are strategic priorities for the Injury Center and aspects of this comprehensive ACEs strategy cut across the Injury Center’s topic areas, including overdose, suicide, and other forms of violence and injury. More specifically, in addition to preventing later involvement in multiple forms of violence, prevention of ACEs may reduce risk for both suicide and overdose in the long term. And, parental substance use and having a parent die by suicide are ACEs themselves, so preventing these adverse outcomes helps disrupt the intergenerational transmission of ACEs. By addressing these three strategic priorities with a coordinated and comprehensive approach, we can maximize our prevention impact for all three.
To date, a comprehensive strategy that connects and expands the Injury Center’s ACEs work across research, surveillance, practice, communications, policy, and partnerships has not been developed. Recognizing the potential for substantial public health impact that could be realized as a result of implementing a coordinated, comprehensive strategy for the prevention of ACEs, the Injury Center’s Office of Strategy and Innovation (OSI) convened an internal working group comprising a diverse group of leaders and subject matter experts from across the Injury Center to develop the first ACEs Prevention Strategy.
This report reflects the results of the working group’s discussions and planning efforts and outlines specific goals and objectives for ACEs prevention and response in the Injury Center. The goals and objectives aim to prevent ACEs before they happen, identify those who have experienced ACEs, and respond using trauma-informed approaches in order to create the conditions for strong, thriving families and communities where all children and youth are free from harm and all people can achieve lifelong health and wellbeing. This report also serves to affirm our commitment to understanding and addressing the social and structural inequities that put some children at greater risk for experiencing ACEs and that exacerbate the impact of those ACEs when they do occur. (author description)