In order for children to meet developmental milestones, learn, grow and lead full lives, it is critical that they be healthy. Good social-emotional and mental health is a key component of children’s healthy development.
Poverty, trauma, and inadequate treatment are three factors that have been shown to have a sustained, negative impact on children’s social, emotional and mental health.
Racism is now recognized as an Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE), a toxic source of stress with the potential to disrupt a child’s ability to learn, relate, grow, play, communicate, and problem-solve.
ACEs disproportionately impact children of color. This is a downstream impact of the inequitable environments created by institutions and systems that shape our lives (e.g. the court, education, and healthcare systems).
The Minnesota Department of Health released a 2025 publication, Addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through shared risk and protective factors. The article documented the following ways to prevent and mitigate the impact of ACEs
- Health Equity
- Community Connectedness
- Economic Justice
- Built Environment (improving the physical spaces where children live)
- Social and Emotional Learning
Protective factors are experiences that reduce the risk of ACEs and enhance child well-being. These factors include things like nurturing family relationships, access to education and support, positive social connections, and concrete support for basic needs. These factors are supportive for every child of every race, and yet, we continue to learn throughout this challenge that the opportunity is not distributed equally across our communities.
Today’s Challenge
Watch
- Watch the Michigan ACE Initiative video to learn about statewide ACEs awareness, interventions, and recommended state policy. Explore ways you can help magnify their work. (19:08) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtuTmDtvGm0
- Watch Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris on the TED stage explain how the repeated stress of abuse, neglect and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain. Reflect on your own coping skills during the most difficult time in your life experience, and any privilege that may have helped you cope. Consider how different the outcome may have been without that privilege. (16:02) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95ovIJ3dsNk
Engage
- Stay connected with this resource as more knowledge about ACEs emerges. https://www.pacesconnection.com
- Take this survey to learn how childhood trauma may be impacting your own life. https://www.pacesconnection.com/blog/got-your-ace-resilience-scores
- Assess your score and discover resources for supporting yourself and others. https://health.cornell.edu/resources/health-topics/building-resilience
- Sign up for an ACEs training through Nonprofit Network. It will give you the skills to help build resilience in our communities. Workshop Calendar
Discuss
- Review the CDC’s overview of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). How might racial inequality impact ACEs in your community?
- How can you be part of the protective factors that prevent or mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) for children in your life and community?