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1 in 4 adults in the United States have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). This has a lifelong impact on health and well-being.


The good news is that there is hope. The Aceswv coalition of West Virginia provides support, education, and resources to help individuals and families affected by ACEs.

1 in 4 adults in the United States have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). This has a lifelong impact on health and well-being.


The good news is that there is hope. The Aceswv coalition of West Virginia provides support, education, and resources to help individuals and families affected by ACEs.

Make a difference now

The WV ACES Coalition is dedicated to improving the well-being of West Virginians by reducing the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and preventing their occurrence.


The Coalition works to prevent ACEs by raising awareness about their effects and promoting policies and practices that protect children and families.


In addition, the Coalition provides support to individuals and families who have been affected by ACEs. Through its work, the WV ACES Coalition is making a difference in the lives of West Virginians and helping to build a brighter future for our state.

Make a difference now

The WV ACES Coalition is dedicated to improving the well-being of West Virginians by reducing the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and preventing their occurrence.


The Coalition works to prevent ACEs by raising awareness about their effects and promoting policies and practices that protect children and families.


In addition, the Coalition provides support to individuals and families who have been affected by ACEs. Through its work, the WV ACES Coalition is making a difference in the lives of West Virginians and helping to build a brighter future for our state.

Make a difference now

The WV ACES Coalition is dedicated to improving the well-being of West Virginians by reducing the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and preventing their occurrence.


The Coalition works to prevent ACEs by raising awareness about their effects and promoting policies and practices that protect children and families.


In addition, the Coalition provides support to individuals and families who have been affected by ACEs. Through its work, the WV ACES Coalition is making a difference in the lives of West Virginians and helping to build a brighter future for our state.

What are ACEs?

They're traumatic experiences during childhood, like abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence. These experiences can have a lifelong impact on health and well-being.


We know that ACEs have a lasting impact on health and well-being, and we are committed to preventing them from happening in the first place. We focus on Raising awareness of ACEs and their effects, Supporting individuals and families who have experienced ACEs & Promoting policies and practices that prevent ACEs.

Debunking myths about ACEs

  • Myth - Screening should be done everywhere

    Not necessarily. When you want to know the burden of ACEs and the promise of protective factors in a community, a school, an organization — and it’s extremely useful to know what the ACEs burden is, as well as the level of protective factors — an anonymous ACE and resilience survey is enough.

  • Myth - Physical and sexual abuse are the worst ACEs

    The brain can’t distinguish between different types of ACEs — once the experience goes into the brain, it’s toxic stress. The ACE Study showed that it doesn’t matter what the types of ACEs are. An ACE score of 4 that includes divorce, physical abuse, an incarcerated family member and a depressed family member has the same statistical outcome as an ACE score of 4 that includes living with an alcoholic, verbal abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect.

  • Myth - Since ACEs only happen during childhood, we only have to focus all our resources on kids and we’ll solve our problems.

    Research shows that parents pass their ACEs on to kids, so you have to involve parents. If parents address their ACEs, learn about ACEs science, and get help, they get healthier, and, as a result, their kids get healthier. What causes ACEs? Toxic stress. And since toxic stress appears in the community and the environment, parents won’t get as healthy as their kids need them to be until the organizations and systems they work for and interact with, the communities they live in, and the nations they’re part of stop traumatizing already traumatized people, and start healing. 

Thank You To Our Funders

Thank You To Our Funders

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