Save Lives Kenosha

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Learn Your Score Control Your Destiny

The Impact of Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences

Research shows that our childhood experiences have a strong impact on our health and wellness as adults, especially Adverse Childhood Experiences, known as ACEs.

It is important to understand that ACEs are not our fault, and we did not have control over what happened. ACEs can be a single event, or they can be repeated events or situations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and leading development researchers have established a simple ACEs assessment to help us understand our level of risk. We invite you to take the survey now to learn your score. Then we’ll give you some tips and resources to help you take control of your destiny. Please know that some situations in the survey may be challenging for you.

If at any point you find yourself overwhelmed and needing assistance, please reach out to Crisis at (262) 657-7188.
A trained professional will answer your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

ACEs Assessment

This ACEs assessment is a useful tool to show you the impact your childhood experiences can have on your health as an adult. Please know that your ACEs score can never go down, but your future is not set-in-stone. There are many things you can do to take control of your destiny, once you learn your score.

Note: Your participation is completely anonymous. Your answers are confidential and no identifying information is stored.

Download Printable Assessment
1. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… a) Swear at you, insult you, put you down, or humiliate you? or b) Act in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt?
2. Did a parent or other adult in the household often or very often… a) Push, grab, slap, or throw something at you? or b) Ever hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured?
3. Did an adult or person at least 5 years older than you ever… a) Touch or fondle you or have you touch their body in a sexual way? or b) Attempt or actually have oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse with you?
4. Did you often or very often feel that … a) No one in your family loved you or thought you were important or special? or b) Your family didn’t look out for each other, feel close to each other, or support each other?
5. Did you often or very often feel that … a) You didn’t have enough to eat, had to wear dirty clothes, and had no one to protect you? or b) Your parents were too drunk or high to take care of you or take you to the doctor if you needed it?
6. Were your parents ever separated or divorced?
7. Was your mother or stepmother: a) Often or very often pushed, grabbed, slapped or had something thrown at her? or b) Sometimes, often, or very often kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, or hit with something hard? or c) Ever repeatedly hit over at least a few minutes or threatened with a gun or knife?
8. Did you live with anyone who was a problem drinker or alcoholic, or who used street drugs?
9. Was a household member depressed or mentally ill, or did a household member attempt suicide?
10. Did a household member go to prison?
Note: Your participation is completely anonymous. Your answers are confidential and no identifying information is stored.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Funding made possible by SAMHSA Grant #SP022112 administered by the Wisconsin Department of Health.

The Kenosha County Substance Abuse Coalition’s mission is to support networking, encourage education, explore gaps, and realize solutions to improve treatment and reduce alcohol and other drug abuse in our community with a primary focus on families.

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