Trauma and ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

The impacts of trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences on the learning experience cannot be understated. Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a deeply distressing and/or terrible event that overwhelms an individual’s ability to cope. ACEs are significant childhood traumas which can result in actual changes in brain development. These changes may affect a child’s learning ability, social skills, and can result in long-term health problems. In Missouri, many schools participate in the Missouri Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative in an effort to better respond to the needs of students. An appropriate response can be as simple as remembering the guiding principles of the trauma-informed response: