Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Resilience Coalition of KFL&A (ARC)

Preventing, mitigating, and reducing the impacts of ACEs and building community resilience requires systemic change.

The Issue

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially stressful or traumatic experiences that may happen in a person’s life before the age of 18.

There are many different types of ACEs, including neglect, abuse, household challenges, discrimination, chronic poverty, exposure to community violence, and systemic racism.

Systemic conditions, including social policies and access to the social determinants of health, affect a person’s risk of ACEs. ACEs are common. In the absence of support, ACEs can increase a person’s risk of negative health and social outcomes across the lifespan.

ACEs can lead to a toxic stress response. This response, caused by excessive and persistent adversity in the absence of a supportive and caring relationship, can overload systems in the brain and body - leading to long term consequences.

Resilience is the capacity to stay well in the face of significant stress or hardship. It is influenced by our genes, relationships with others, life experiences, and environments.

Resilience isn’t something we develop alone.

It is built through positive interactions, protective factors, and by mitigating toxic stress.

Reducing sources of stress, enhancing skills, and creating supportive environments can further strengthen resilience, especially for those with past adversities. While resilience can be strengthened at any age, the best time to build the basis of resilience is at a young age.

Resilience does not develop in isolation. It is enhanced by connections to family, friends, community and culture.

Positive connections with adults can help foster resilience and can help our ability to weather life’s challenges. Positive Childhood Experiences are protective factors that contribute to healthy development and well-being and can prevent or reduce the effects of adversity.


The Solution

The ACEs & Resilience Coalition of Kingston, Frontenac, and Lennox & Addington (ARC)

Since 2019, the Community Foundation for Kingston and Area has led conversations about the impact of early adversity on lifelong health and the importance of community resilience to prevent and mitigate the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

VISION

A resilient community that prevents and reduces the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences

MISSION

We work together to reduce risk factors and promote positive childhood experiences and protective factors to build resilience and support lifelong health

PRINCIPLES

Equity, best available evidence, community engagement, trauma-informed, knowledge mobilization, maximize impact

The ARC is comprised of agencies and individuals in the KFL&A region, with a vision of a resilient community that prevents and reduces the effects of ACEs. Coalition members have knowledge and awareness of ACEs, stigma, resilience, and the importance of community and supportive relationships. They champion ACEs- and resilience-informed practices and use evidence of ACEs and resilience to inform decision-making and action within their sphere of influence.


Land Acknowledgment

The Community Foundation for Kingston & Area is situated on Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Huron-Wendat territory. We acknowledge the significance of this land and all that is within it for the Indigenous Peoples who lived and continue to live here and who are sustained by this land.

It is our understanding that this territory is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee to share and protect this land. In the spirit of peace, friendship and respect, all subsequent Indigenous Nations and newcomers were invited into this living treaty to care for this land and its resources.

We affirm our commitment to continuously listen, learn, and honour Indigenous histories and perspectives as we work towards building a more resilient and welcoming community. We affirm our commitment to be a space for reconciliation in action.