Over more than a decade, it has been shown that Adverse Childhood Experiences–ACES–are extremely common and can produce toxic stress, triggering hormones that wreak havoc on the developing brains and bodies of children. The experience and accumulation of these ACES have not only immediate impact, but affect adult health by increasing the likelihood of chronic disease, obesity, even cancer. No segment of society is immune. Resilience chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education and social welfare, with concerned community members, are working to understand and mediate the serious effects of toxic stress—and to improve the future health and well-being of children and of entire communities.
