History Isn’t Destiny
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are significant traumas in childhood that can impact both mental and physical health long-term. While these experiences occur in early years, their effects are often seen well into adulthood, influencing well-being, behavior, and overall quality of life. At Springboard Community Services, we work to support individuals affected by ACEs, helping them build resilience, develop coping skills, and find healing from these early-life challenges.
What are ACEs?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are serious childhood traumas that compromise our mental and physical health. Although they occur in childhood, they can affect both adults and children.
Video: TEDx Talk: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime – How Common are ACEs Adverse Childhood Experiences | Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Positive Stress
Activation of the body’s stress response to a long-lasting or severe situation/event.
Toxic Stress
Prolonged activation of the body’s stress response to frequent, intense situations/events.
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The 10 ACEs
Where does it hurt?
Adverse Childhood Experiences can affect mental and physical health
ACEs are serious childhood traumas that cause toxic stress. Stress affects brain development in children, which can result in long-term mental health problems and health concerns into adulthood. Toxic stress in childhood can increase stress hormones, raising heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, and muscle tension. When a child’s brain is busy trying to protect itself, there is no room left for learning, play, and emotional growth.
ACEs can increase the risk of:
ACEs can result in learning problems, reduced ability to fight infection, difficulty making friends, behavior issues, memory difficulties, and long-term health problems. Here are a few increased risk and health factors related to ACEs:
- Asthma
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Depression
- Liver Disease
- Heart Disease
- Intimate partner violence
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Smoking
- Suicide attempts
- Unintended pregnancies
What to Do About ACEs
History isn’t destiny. You can prevent ACEs in your children or start healing from your own. Building resilience, the ability to adapt to difficult situations is the key to protecting yourself and your family from the effects of ACEs
For Everyone
- Get between 7-8 hours of sleep per night
- Develop a daily healthy eating routine
- Get more active and exercise regularly
- Practice meditation or yoga
- Talk to a therapist
- Educate yourself on healthy living
- Stay hydrated by drinking more water
- Learn about intermittent fasting
- Google ‘growth mindset’ and be a doer
- Read or listen to audiobooks regularly
- Connect with family & friends more often
- Realize failure is part of learning and it is ok
For Parents
- Provide a safe and stable environment
- Get treatment so you don’t pass on your ACEs to your children
- Get help from friends, family, or support groups
- Understand your child’s needs and try to meet them
Helping children and adults heal from ACEs
It’s never too late to feel better. Whether a parent suffered adverse experiences in their own childhood or their child is affected now, there are simple ways to reboot the brain and create new pathways for healing.
It’s always the right time to get help
If you or your child has had adverse childhood experiences, start by talking to a trauma-informed therapist. In the meantime, find a support group, make time to exercise, prepare healthy meals, and practice mindfulness. Building resilience and finding support is key to recovery and enjoying a healthy life.
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We provide services regardless of your ability to pay. We accept most commercial insurance plans, as well as Medicare and Medicaid, and offer a sliding scale fee for those without insurance.
Offered at These Locations
Baltimore City
4623 Falls Road Baltimore, MD 21209
(410) 366-1980
Carroll County
7 Schoolhouse Avenue Westminster, MD 21157 (410) 848-2433
Harford County
44 East Gordon Street Bel Air, MD 21014 (410) 838-9000
Howard County
10451 Twin Rivers Road, Suite 100 Columbia, MD 21044 410-997-3557
The Youth Training Center
Get the latest on Springboard’s newest Baltimore City project, the Youth Training Center, and learn how we’re empowering young people through job readiness and housing stability.