Section 1 Short title; findings
Short title— This Act may be cited as the “Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences Act”.
Findings— Congress finds the following:
Certain negative events, circumstances, or maltreatment to which children may be exposed, known as adverse childhood experiences, are associated with negative health outcomes.
Childhood psychological, physical, or sexual abuse; household challenges such as violence, substance use, mental illness, separation or divorce, or incarceration of a family member; and emotional or physical neglect have been shown to negatively impact a person’s long-term health and wellbeing.
Adverse childhood experiences and associated conditions such as living in under-resourced or racially segregated neighborhoods, frequently moving, experiencing food insecurity, and other instability can cause toxic stress, a prolonged activation of the stress-response system.
Experiencing one or more adverse childhood experiences is associated with higher risks of some of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.
More than half of all Americans have experienced one or more adverse childhood experiences.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recognized adverse childhood experiences as a major public health concern and made it a priority area for focus in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Further research is needed to better define adverse childhood experiences, understand the causal pathway between adverse childhood experiences and physical health outcomes, and identify protective factors against adverse childhood experiences and their effects, in order to inform and improve current programs and future efforts to promote public health.
Evidence-based prevention and mitigation strategies to address adverse childhood experiences have been identified, but efforts are needed to facilitate implementation in communities.