The ACE study proved that adverse childhood experiences are vastly more common than anyone knew. In addition, the more adverse childhood experiences reported, the more likely a person was to develop heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, skeletal fractures, and liver disease as an adult.
The majority of human suffering in our community is connected directly to Adverse Childhood Experiences, the ten worst things that can happen to a child.
For Milwaukee, the cumulative effect of unhealed ACEs has been cycles of poverty, low graduation rates and a feeling of hopelessness.
The greater the number of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), the greater likelihood of health issues and dysfunction as an adult, based on Centers for Disease Control studies.
1. Mother Treated Violently
2. Household Substance Abuse
3. Untreated Household Mental Illness
4. Parental Separation or Divorce
5. Incarcerated Household Member
6. Emotional Abuse
7. Physical Abuse
8. Sexual Abuse
9. Physical Neglect
10. Emotional Neglect