Intro to ACEs
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumas that happen in a child's life that hurts or scares them. When a child experiences trauma over a long period of time it is even more harmful to their growing body and brain and can lead to toxic stress and other negative effects.
We at Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) Illinois are committed to helping find a solution to this problem and connect the residents of Illinois to resources and education to help reduce the impact of ACEs. That's why we started the ACEs Project.
About the ACEs Project
PCA Illinois' ACEs Project was established in 2017 with the development of five trainings and educational materials to help raise awareness and promote prevention of ACEs. We then recently expanded our project through a grant with the Illinois Department of Public Health. Simply put, the ACEs project aims to strengthen families and communities and ensure safe and healthy environments for all children.
Through this project, we conducted a large-scale survey to reach folks all across the state and learn where gaps in education were and what resources were needed.
Read the results of our Adverse Childhood Experiences Environmental Scan here!
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Environmental Scan One-Pager
Full Environmental Scan Data Analysis
Since conducting that survey, our main focus has been our public awareness campaign, through which we hope to educate and empower others to learn how they can prevent ACEs and create happy childhoods.
We offer learning opportunities through webinars, trainings, and a free annual conference. You can also order FREE educational materials on ACEs by clicking here.
Join in on the statewide effort to prevent ACEs and create happy childhoods through our ACEs Network.
Contact our ACEs Project Director for more information:
Kelsey Greene, kgreene@pcaillinois.org
PCA Illinois is a free standing 501(c)(3) charitable organization and the chartered state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America. Established in 1990, PCA Illinois provides key leadership for child abuse prevention in Illinois. PCA Illinois is actively involved in prevention education, public awareness, community outreach, public policy advocacy, and promotion of effective prevention programs.
Learn more about what we do on our website.
Contact us at PCA Illinois
528 S. 5th Street
Springfield, IL 62701
(217) 522-1129