ACEs Awareness Day • Child Abuse Prevention Month April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Across the country, states are also marking ACE (Adverse Childhood
Identified by pioneering research conducted by Vincent Felitti, MD and the CDC‑Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, ACEs are Adverse Childhood Experiences that harm children’s developing brains. This groundbreaking, longitudinal study continues to reveal that responses to stress could damage children’s immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs have been identified at the root of chronic disease, most mental illness, and most violence.
We invite you to take a short quiz to learn how ACEs have impacted you.
This is a reflection tool, not a diagnosis. Your answers are not recorded or transmitted anywhere. Nothing you enter leaves your browser.
The questions below come from two bodies of research: the original CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, and the Positive Childhood Experiences (PCE) research. Both matter.
Ten yes-or-no questions about your first 18 years.
While you were growing up, during your first 18 years of life: Did a parent or other adult in the household often swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? Or act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
Did a parent or other adult in the household often push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? Or ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? Or attempt oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
Did you often feel that no one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? Or your family didn't look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
Did you often feel that you didn't have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, or had no one to protect you? Or your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you?
Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
Was your mother or stepmother often pushed, grabbed, slapped, or had something thrown at her? Or repeatedly hit or threatened with a gun or knife?
Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?
Did a household member go to prison?
Seven questions about protective relationships and environments.
While you were growing up, during your first 18 years of life: Able to talk with your family about your feelings?
That your family stood by you during difficult times?
That you enjoyed participating in community traditions?
A sense of belonging in your school?
Supported by friends?
That there were at least two non-parent adults who took a genuine interest in you?
Safe and protected by an adult in your home?
ACEs Awareness Day • Child Abuse Prevention Month April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Across the country, states are also marking ACE (Adverse Childhood