Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are some of the most intense sources of stress that children can be exposed to, including child maltreatment, interparental violence, and parental substance use. Along with immediate health and educational effects, ACEs have been linked to higher risks of health-harming behaviors, including smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, and drug use. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates costs of ACEs are over $700 billion per year in the United States.
Our non-partisan Resilient PA Coalition strives to foster resilient Pennsylvania youth, families and communities through promoting trauma-informed care and systems across sectors as well as promoting efforts to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors for youth and families to break cycles of family and community trauma.
This coalition exists to raise awareness on the impact of trauma, childhood trauma (ACEs), trauma as experienced by different cultural, racial, and ethnic groups, and benefits of adopting trauma-informed and resiliency building practices and strategies to address critical social challenges at both the community and state level.