Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events experienced before age 18. They include parental divorce or separation; living with someone who had an alcohol or drug problem; neighborhood violence victim or witness; living with someone who was mentally ill, suicidal or severely depressed; domestic violence witness; parent served jail time; being treated or judged unfairly due to race/ethnicity; or death of a parent.

ACEs can disrupt brain development causing social, emotional, and cognitive problems throughout an individual’s life, which increase the likelihood of risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, difficulty functioning at school/work, and even early death.

Nearly two in five Oklahoma children (21.3 percent) have suffered Adverse Childhood Experiences, according to 2024 data reported by America’s Health Rankings. This rate was higher the national average of 14.5 percent and the 3rd highest rate among the states. In 2021, 18.3 percent of Oklahoma children were found to have Adverse Childhood Experiences.