Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences

There are several strategies that can prevent ACEs from happening in the first place as well as strategies to mitigate the harms of ACEs. The evidence tells us that ACEs can be prevented by:

  • Strengthening economic supports for families

  • Promoting social norms that protect against violence and adversity

  • Ensuring a strong start for children and paving the way for them to reach their full potential

  • Teaching skills to help parents and youth handle stress, manage emotions, and tackle everyday challenges

  • Connecting youth to caring adults and activities

  • Intervening to lessen immediate and long-term harms

*This information is provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Violence Prevention. Please reference their "Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Leveraging the Best Available Evidence" Technical Package for additional information (https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/preventingACES-508.pdf)

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The Chester County ACEs Coalition has put together a list of Chester County resources that support the prevention strategies listed above. Please keep in mind this is a working list and is as current as possible. If you see something missing or incorrect, contact us! Additionally, if you would like your program or organization to be listed, please contact Chelsea at cmelrath@chesco.org.

Strengthening Economic Supports for Families

- Strengthening household financial security:

o Rental assistance programs

o Increase education to increase income

o Utility assistance

o Budgeting classes

o Addressing food insecurity

o Childcare subsidies

o Basic Needs

Promoting Social Norms that Protect Against Violence & Adversity

- Domestic Violence Center of Chester County Educational Programs

- Crime Victims Center of Chester County

- Compass Mark - Drug and Alcohol Prevention Presentations


Ensuring a Strong Start for Children

- Nurse Family Partnership Program

- Head Start/Pre-K Counts

- ELRC (formerly CCIS) – Access to quality childcare

- Maternal and Child Health Consortium (MCHC)

- WIC


Teaching Skills

- Safe dating & healthy relationship skills programs:

- Family Service - Strengthening Families Program
- Child Guidance Resource Centers - The Incredible Years Program

- Child Guidance Resource Centers - Parent-Child Interaction Therapy


Connecting Youth to Caring Adults &Activities

- Big Brothers, Big Sisters

- Parkesburg Point

- Bridge Academy

- Coatesville Youth Initiative

- The Garage Community & Youth Center

- The Lighthouse Youth Center

- YMCA’s

-LGBTQ+ Support Groups for Youth (SPOT & Rainbow Phoenix)

Intervening to Lessen Immediate & Long-term Harms

- Primary Care:

o CVIM

o La Comunidad Hispana

o ChesPenn

o The Clinic

o Chester County Health Department

- Victim Centered Services:

- Treatment:

- Family Centered Treatment Approaches for Substance Use Disorders: