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Overview
Welcome to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) Data to Action Hub! Whether you want to learn more about ACEs and PCEs data collection and monitoring, assess and understand different data sources, or turn data into action, you’re in the right place.
First, let’s ground ourselves in the broad definition of public health data collection and monitoring.
PUBLIC HEALTH DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING is the ongoing and systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health-related data. These data are essential to planning, implementing, and evaluating public health efforts.
The purpose of public health data collection and monitoring is to provide ongoing information that can be used to inform data-driven action.
We can collect and monitor public health data to:
- Describe the burden and changes over time.
- Identify populations at disproportionate risk and then use the information to tailor prevention and intervention strategies.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and intervention strategies.
- Monitor efforts to reduce the disproportionate burden of poor health and ensure everyone has the opportunity to reach their highest level of health.
This hub focuses on a specific type of public health data—adverse childhood experiences and positive childhood experiences.
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events in childhood (0-17 years), like neglect and experiencing or witnessing violence in the home or community. Also included are aspects of a child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as living in a household where a parent or caregiver is negatively affected by substance use or an ongoing mental health condition. While these are some examples, it’s important to remember this is not an exhaustive list.
- Positive childhood experiences (PCEs) are experiences in childhood related to a child’s ability to have safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments. They include things like having nurturing, supportive relationships with parents, other adults, and peers. Also included are living, developing, playing, and learning in safe, stable, nurturing environments, and having opportunities to try new things and connect with others.
It’s important to pay attention to both ACEs and PCEs because they both affect health outcomes and public health in general.
Instructions: Click next to explore the graphic
Imagine a child is a seedling trying to grow into a strong, healthy, fruit-bearing tree.
The fruit represents different health outcomes the child may experience throughout their life, but it’s not the only thing worth paying attention to.
If a child is a seedling, then ACEs are the weeds—they can interfere with the seed’s ability to grow, develop, and thrive.
PCEs, meanwhile, are nourishing water and sunlight—they encourage and are critical to the seed’s growth, even if weeds are also present.
