1001 Critical Days & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The First 1001 Critical Days

This is the time between conception and age two.  It is the period when brain development is at its peak growth period, with the brain creating connections  at the rate of 1 million per second! It is also a  time when  large numbers of children experience adverse childhood experiences, which can  impact on a baby’s social and  emotional development, and how their brain develops.  It is a crucial period for young children’s learning, especially language learning. This is so important for life chances, education and mental health that the  that the Early Intervention Foundation recommends that we view language development  as an indicator of well-being

A number of councils in England are beginning to develop cross service partnership work on adverse childhood experiences to plan how they intervene early  before the ACEs occur.  

Download the 1001 Critical Days report

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Adverse Childhood Experiences

A growing body of research is revealing the long-term impacts that experiences and events during childhood have on individuals’ life chances. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, neglect and dysfunctional home environments have been shown to be associated with the development of a wide range of harmful behaviours including smoking, harmful alcohol use, drug use, risky sexual behaviour, violence and crime. They are also linked to diseases such as diabetes, mental illness, cancer and cardiovascular disease, and ultimately to premature mortality.

Download the ACEs Fact sheet

Download the ACES and social injustice presentation

Fair Society, Healthy Lives: the Marmot Review

Read the full review