Glossary

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years). Examples include: experiencing violence or abuse, witnessing violence in the home or community, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide. ACEs also include aspects of a child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding such as growing up in a household with substance misuse, mental health problems, or instability due to parental separation or household members being in jail or prison. ACEs are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood. 

Protective Factors

Any attribute, characteristic, or influence at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precedes and is associated with a higher likelihood of positive outcomes and lessens the likelihood of negative outcomes. A protective factor decreases the likelihood of experiencing an injury, violence, or disease.

Risk Factors

Any attribute, characteristic, or influence at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precedes and is associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes and decreases the likelihood of positive outcomes. A risk factor increases the likelihood of experiencing an injury, violence, or disease.

Shared Risk and Protective Factors

An effort to improve multiple population health and quality-of-life outcomes by aligning diverse, multi-sector interventions that positively and equitably impact the social determinants of health.

Social Ecological Model

A framework used to describe the multifaceted, interrelated, and interactive effects of personal and environmental factors that influence behaviors. Social ecological models illustrate the existence of multiple levels of influence (such as individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy) and affirm the idea that behaviors both shape and are shaped by the social environment.