Connecting adverse childhood experiences and community health to promote health equity

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have negative effects on health outcomes across the lifespan. Furthermore, the effects of ACEs are often compounded by social determinants of health and historical and contemporary trauma that can affect entire communities. The socio-ecological model is a valuable framework for understanding the complex systems in which efforts to promote health equity are situated. Using a trauma-informed lens, community health becomes a powerful focal point for viable prevention and treatment options to address ACEs and promote health equity. Self-healing on a community level involves collective engagement; people most affected by ACEs and trauma come together around activities that have the potential to lift up the entire community and foster individual and community resilience. The use of community health research and evaluation methods that are consistent with trauma-informed, empowerment approaches can contribute to community healing. This paper is intended to establish a common language for how community healing can address ACEs and foster health equity.