Reps. Davis and Lawler Champion Bill to Support Healthy Childhoods

Reps. Davis and Lawler Champion Bill to Support Healthy Childhoods

The bill authorizes grants to public health entities to promote positive childhood experiences as a key method to limiting adverse childhood experiences and helping children thrive.

Washington, D.C.- March 5, 2024, Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Michael Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACE) Act to provide critical investments in the primary prevention of adverse childhood experiences and their related negative outcomes.  

Certain negative events, circumstances, or maltreatment during childhood—known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — are associated with the high risk of negative physical and mental health outcomes in childhood and throughout a lifetime.  ACEs include: abuse; neglect; experiencing or witnessing violence; having a family member attempt or die by suicide; growing up in a household with substance abuse or mental health problems; exposure to generational or historical trauma; parental separation; or household members being incarcerated.  Research is clear that experiencing a higher number of ACEs is associated with corresponding higher rates of poor health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, diabetes, heart attacks, and cancer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recognized ACEs as a major public health concern and made addressing them a priority area for focus in the National Center for Injury Prevention as well as across the CDC.  According to the CDC, an estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults reported they had experienced at least one type of ACE before age 18, and nearly 1 in 6 (17.3%) reported they had experienced four or more types of ACEs. 

The PACE Actwould authorize the CDC Director to award grants to public health entities to promote positive childhood experiences as a key method to preventing adverse childhood experiences.  Further, the bill would build state-level capacity to promote child well-being by requiring the CDC Director to conduct systematic research into what works to limit and mitigate adverse childhood experiences.

“Strengthening children and families is important to preventing and mitigating adverse childhood experiences,” said Rep. Davis.  “The Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (PACE) Act will help states and communities promote healthy childhoods and advance research so children can thrive.  I am pleased to join with Rep. Lawler to lead this important bill to help grow happy and healthy children.”

“Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that can have a physical impact on children for the rest of their lives. With nearly a third of adults having reported at least one type of ACE before the age of 18, early intervention is key. That’s why I’m proud to join Representative Davis in introducing the PACE Act, which will help our children thrive in the face of adversity,” said Congressman Lawler.

Prevent Child Abuse America

“Prevention is possible. Programs and policies supporting families before they are in crisis can equip parents with the tools they need to ensure their kids have a safe and healthy environment,” said Dr. Melissa M. Merrick, president & CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America. “We proudly endorse the Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences Act, which focuses on supporting kids and families through prevention and also recognizes the importance of positive childhood experiences, which are so critical.”

Prevent Child Abuse Illinois

“We at Prevent Child Abuse Illinois are committed to promoting positive childhood experiences through strengthening families and communities to ensure safe and healthy environments for all children,” said Tarra Winters, Executive Director, Prevent Child Abuse Illinois.  “This is possible through connecting the residents of Illinois to resources and education to help reduce the impact of adverse childhood experiences.  We fully endorse the Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences Act that would support prevention activities, like facilitating local Child Abuse Prevention Coalitions and promoting positive childhood for all families across Illinois.” 

Prevent Child Abuse New York

“We strongly support the Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences Act (PACE Act),” said Timothy Hathaway, Executive Director, Prevent Child Abuse New York. “Primary prevention efforts, like ensuring access to safe housing and health services in schools, have proven to be effective in the prevention of adverse childhood experiences. This important legislation prioritizes healthy childhoods and lessens the exposure to adverse experiences for children, increasing the likelihood that more children have the happy, healthy childhoods they deserve.”

The bill is endorsed by 47 state and national child and family advocates, including:  American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work; American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; American Mental Health Counselors Association; American Public Health Association; Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; Big Cities Health Coalition; Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative; Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Children’s Home Society of America; Clinical Social Work Association; Committee for Children; Crisis Text Line; E.L.M. Wellness; Faces and Voices of Recovery; First Focus Campaign for Children; Food Full Circle, LLC; Futures Without Violence; Help Me Grow National Center; IC&RC; Inner Explorer; Inseparable; Justice and Joy National Collaborative; Life Paths Research Center; Mental Health America; MindWise Innovations; NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals; National Alliance on Mental Illness; National Association for Rural Mental Health; National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Behavioral Health Association of Providers; National Federation of Families; National League for Nursing; Nemours Children’s Health; Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health; Prevent Child Abuse America; Prevention Institute; Psychotherapy Action Network; RI International Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine; Society for Public Health Education; Starr Commonwealth; The American College of Preventive Medicine; The Family Focused Treatment Association; The Kennedy Forum Trust for America’s Health; and Youth Villages.

A summary of the PACE Act is available here.

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