Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Data Report

“The future of any society depends on its ability to foster the health and well-being of the next generation. Stated simply, today’s children will become tomorrow’s citizens, workers, and parents. When we invest wisely in children and families, the next generation will pay that back through a lifetime of productivity and responsible citizenship. When we fail to provide children with what they need to build a strong foundation for healthy and productive lives, we put our future prosperity and security at risk

… All aspects of adult human capital, from work force skills to cooperative and lawful behavior, build on capacities that are developed during childhood, beginning at birth … The basic principles of neuroscience and the process of human skill formation indicate that early intervention for the most vulnerable children will generate the greatest payback.”  [The Science of Early Childhood Development, 2007]

But if society is to avoid the most dreaded, invasive and reactive means of intervention (e.g. governmental forced removal of children from neglectful home environments), maybe we then should be willing to try an unconventional proactive means of preventing some future dysfunctional home environments. Mindlessly minding our own business on such matters has too often proven humanly devastating.