How a child develops is the foundation for a prosperous community in the future. Starting even before birth, a child’s brain architecture is being constructed through an ongoing process that continues into adulthood. But many children experience stress early on that damages the early developing architecture of their brain and can undermine their ability to reach their full potential.​ Not only can early experiences of adversity impact individuals’ lives, they also can impact future generations. Our experiences may be woven into our children’s and even our grandchildren’s genetic code. 

If we are going to reduce trauma and improve health outcomes today, and in the future, we need to start at the beginning. The VERY beginning.

Opportunities to Respond

Building the well-being of adults and children together results in a structure that is stronger for the entire family. We support these two opportunities to shore up parents' foundations: 
  • Expand community support coordination to the prenatal period
  • Promote and expand home-visiting services​
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Guide to prenatal care

Nine2Thrive pilot initiative
Click the image to access a guide that can help you learn about the science and response strategies. 
Click the image to learn about a pilot project that tested a resource and referral system with pregnant parents. 

Training on Prenatal Strategies

Over the past year, ACEs 360 has focused on research, training, and advocacy related to trauma and the prenatal period. Supporting expecting mothers and families is critical to disrupting the intergenerational impact of trauma. 

ACEs and Prenatal: From Success to Strength provides an overview of research on how ACEs and stress can transfer from parent to child and opportunities to prevent ACEs in future generations. 
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Additional Resources for Support Providers