Homelessness & Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Health and Behavioral Health Consequences of Childhood Trauma

Abstract

The health and behavioral health consequences of childhood trauma FACT SHEET February 2019 Purpose This fact sheet was developed by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council and the National Network to End Family Homelessness, an initiative of The Bassuk Center on Homelessness and Vulnerable Children and Youth. The purpose is to ensure clinicians working with people experiencing homelessness understand the role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in health outcomes as well as the options for responding. ACEs and Health RisksChildhood trauma compromises neurological development and increases risk for immediate and long-term adverse health outcomes. The term ACEs originated in a 1998 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente study that documented significant associations between ACEs and negative health outcomes. In that study, 10 family-level ACEs were explored, and findings showed a graded relationship between the number of ACEs with health and behavioral health outcomes in adulthood. Table 1: ACE Types and ClassificationsToday, a significant evidence-base suggests that people with four or more ACEs are two to five times as likely to develop clinical depression, substance use disorders, suicidality, and numerous chronic health conditions including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases compared to people with no ACEs. 1-14 Although individuals with higher ACE scores are also more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors (e.g., substance use), research shows that even those who do not practice risky behavior but have ACEs are still at greater risk for poor health.