Screening for Adverse Child Experiences in Primary Care

It is well known that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) contribute to problems with educational, social-emotional, and physical functioning throughout childhood. However, there are no broadly disseminated methods in primary care to identify children with ACEs.

Now, researchers from two federally qualified health centers in Chicago have developed a 28-item ACE screening tool by using an established trauma screener and adding questions about bullying and physical violence based on input from community partners. The tool was completed for 261 children 3 to 16 years of age who had an elevated Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) score at a well-child visit or who had been referred to the clinics' co-located behavioral health specialist. Parents …