Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) are traumatic events that affect children while growing up.
Children who have been exposed to situations such as conflict, trauma, domestic violence, alcohol/drug abuse, mental illness, undermining, intimidation, bullying, manipulation, criticism, parental divorce and/or
bereavement can experience negative impacts which last well into adulthood.
Such impacts can include poorer educational achievements, employment status and health and wellbeing.
The Department recognises the growing body of evidence on the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences and has commissioned a number of
initiatives, including the MACE Project.
The Multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences - Breaking the Cycle Project (the MACE project) is supported by the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
The project has been awarded grant funding up to €5 million which includes match funding from Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The MACE Project has established Cross Border Community Networks in five delivery sites across the island of Ireland.
The MACE Project aims to transform the lives of vulnerable children and their families by identifying, intervening early and providing nurturing
support within their homes and communities, by delivering 3125 interventions to those aged 0-3 and 11-13 and their families.
Through the Early intervention Transformation Programme (EITP), the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland is delivering the Trauma-Informed Practice Professional Development Project.
This project focuses on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), by supporting professionals to train together and embedding
prevention and early intervention approaches.
NI ACE Animation
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