December is AIDS Awareness Month
Childhood adversities are linked to increased HIV risk behaviors, making trauma-informed practice beneficial for service providers.
A study found that ACEs were positively associated with HIV risk behaviors overall, with different patterns for males and females.
The odds of HIV risk increased significantly for males with one ACE, while for females, it increased with three or more ACEs.
prevention conversations start with the topic of ACEs.
Cendie Stanford, ACEs Matter Founder
In our own words,
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are toxic stress inducing experiences and events that can negatively influence how the child EVOLVES mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially.
More About ACES
And How They Effect Us Throughout Our Lives?
ACES stands for "Adverse Childhood Experiences," These are traumatic experiences such as: Neglect, Household Violence, Substance Abuse, Racism, Bullying and/or Caregiver Mental Illness that occurs before the age of 18.
The more ACEs a child experiences, the more likely they are to have: COPD, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Poor Academic and Work Performance, an Increased Risk of Suicide, Significantly Reduced Longevity, and Substance Abuse.
Without a support system, survivors will experience chronic stress which leads to weakening of our immune systems and the potential of an autoimmune disease, attention deficiencies, low self-worth and low self-esteem.
FAST FACTS ABOUT ACES
ADDRESS IT TODAY.PREVENT IT TOMORROW.
- Abuse: emotional, physical, sexual
- Neglect: emotional, physical
- Caregiver mental illness/unavailability
- Caregiver substance misuse
- Childhood poverty/malnutrition
- Home/community/sensory chaos
- Home/community/sensory violence
- Homelessness
- Discrimination/bullying
- Psychiatric/foster placement
- Crime, arrest, parental separation, death, divorce, abandonment
Join Our Cause
In moments of weakness our unhealed childhood trauma subtly claws its teeth in our heels while whispering reminders of those experiences in our ears.
Cendie Stanford, ACEs Matter Founder
If society can invest in constructing prison and welfare systems to address the needs of individuals affected by ACEs, it is equally feasible to establish nurturing and healing communities.
​Cendie Stanford - Founder
Chambers of enlightenment.
ACEs Matter is a grassroots organization dedicated to teaching about the prevention of ACEs.
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