The Rise of Adverse Childhood Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adverse childhood experiences, which is defined by different forms of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction occurring before the age of 18 years, is a major public health problem in the United States that has the potential to worsen in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the challenge is even greater for children and youth from low-income communities and communities of color. Thus, there is a greater need for investments in youth-serving systems within and beyond health care and public health to effectively address adverse childhood experiences and prevent its short- and long-term negative health and social sequelae well beyond the current public health crisis. Clinical Impact Statement Given the likely increase in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) during the coronavirus pandemic, it is vital that we assess for these experiences more intentionally and more broadly when this pandemic concludes. Assessing for ACEs is standard practice in some places already but must become a standard practice in all pediatric care so we can mitigate the impact of these ACEs for a generation of children.