Understanding ACEs & Resiliency

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are serious childhood traumas that result in toxic stress that can harm a child’s brain. The more ACEs a child experiences, the more likely he is to struggle with learning, playing in a healthy way with other children, making friends, and can result in long-term health problems. Building resiliency in children who have experienced ACEs is vital. Resiliency is the ability to bounce back from frustrations and to recover from setbacks. Resilient individuals adapt to change, stress or problems. The result of this bouncing back is a feeling of success and confidence. The Understanding ACEs & Resiliency resource provides an overview of ACEs as well as strategies to build resiliency.

This resource was created through a partnership between Families Together, Inc., Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC), and the TASN School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI). (Updated 2021.03)

This resource is intended for educational purposes only. The information contained herein is not intended to take the place of informed professional diagnosis, advice, or recommendations. Families Together, KPIRC, and the TASN SMHI assume no liability for errors or for the way in which this information is used.