Our Cause
Life is good, but not for all kids and not all the time.
Life is Good Playmakers work to change that.
34 million children in the U.S. have suffered at least one significant traumatic event, or Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). ACEs can have lasting, negative effects on health and well-being, as well as life opportunities such as education and job potential.
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE STUDY, CDC
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
The Reality of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are all types of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic experiences that occur to kids under the age of 18. These experiences have been linked to risky health behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life expectancy, and early death. They are the single greatest health threat facing our nation’s kids today.
ACEs include but are not limited to:
Verbal Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Physical Abuse
Emotional Neglect
Physical Neglect
Emotional Neglect
Physical Neglect
Mental Illness
Mental Illness
Domestic Violence
Drug & Alcohol Use
Parental Incarceration
Parental Separation
Domestic Violence
Drug & Alcohol Use
Parental Incarceration
Parental Separation
Verbal Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Physical Abuse
Emotional Neglect
Physical Neglect
Mental Illness
Domestic Violence
Drug & Alcohol Use
Parental Incarceration
Parental Separation
As the number of ACEs increases, so does the potential risk for
Young, developing brains are highly sensitive to stress, and will not fully develop emotional, social, and cognitive capacity if kids are continuously responding to threats during their first few years of life. When children are continually responding to adversity, the architecture of their developing brains can be damaged leading to life-long consequences. The greater the number of ACEs, the greater risk - experiencing four or more ACEs is associated with significantly increased risk for 7 out of 10 leading adult causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, COPD, diabetes, Alzheimers and suicide. Life expectancy is reduced by 20 years among adults who experienced six or more ACEs as kids.