TRAINING
PARTNER STATES
California
OVERVIEW
In California, the Department of Health Care Services and the Office of the California Surgeon General led ACEs Aware, a first-in-the-nation, statewide effort to implement screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in an effort to treat toxic stress and improve the health and well-being of Californians.
ACEs Aware offers clinical teams training, clinical protocols, and payment for screening children, adolescents, and adults for ACEs – representing the largest coordinated clinical implementation of the prevention and treatment of toxic stress in the United States. In 2021, the ACEs Equity Act expanded ACE screening requirements beyond Medi-Cal to all health care plans in California providing coverage for pediatric services and preventative care.
IMPACT METRICS
ACEs Aware quarterly report.
53,580+
Individuals have completed the ACEs Aware training
5,235,280+
ACE screenings conducted by Medi-Cal Clinicians
2,878,420+
Medi-Cal members have been screened
RAND evaluation of ACEs Aware.
The evaluation findings from California clinics showed that ACE screening is feasible, is acceptable, and benefits patients.
90%
Clinicians participating in training say they’re still screening 6 months later
3 of 4
Clinicians report the screening is already having a positive impact on the people they serve
85%
Clinicians screening who report paying closer attention to their patients’ trauma histories
0
Lasting adverse effects
FEATURED QUOTE
ACEs Aware was founded on the scientific consensus that upstream factors, including ACEs and the resulting toxic stress response, are root causes of many of the most harmful and persistent health challenges facing Californians, from heart disease to homelessness. More importantly, it was built on the overwhelming evidence that early detection and early intervention are key to improving outcomes.
MILESTONES
The progress so far.
LOCAL PARTNERS
Rooted in one purpose, grounded in collaboration.
