Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that occur in childhood (ages 0–17). Examples include experiencing abuse, witnessing violence in the home, and having an incarcerated parent. ACEs have been linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance use problems later in life. In particular, youth who have experienced parental incarceration are distinguished from other children with ACEs by the unique combination of trauma, shame, and stigma. Parental incarceration increases the risk of a child living in poverty or experiencing household instability.
Here are a few resources about ACEs:
Children can be screened for ACEs by a pediatrician as a preventative measure. Catching and preventing ACEs early on in childhood can increase the quality of life for children. Some preventative measures that states and communities can take are social and economic supports that address financial hardship and other conditions that put families at risk, trauma-informed counseling, and, when appropriate, keeping families together by diverting parents from the criminal legal system.
A worksheet at the bottom of the page provides ideas for youth who are experiencing intense stress due to parental incarceration. Although the worksheet techniques do not eliminate the experience of having an incarcerated parent or replace mental health counseling, they do help children cope with situations such as feeling sad after leaving a parent after visiting them in a facility, feeling frustrated after missing a parent’s phone call, or feeling stigmatized at school.
