Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Lifelong Impact of Early Adversity and How to Buffer That Impact
Live Event

Adverse Childhood Experiences: The Lifelong Impact of Early Adversity and How to Buffer That Impact

Fri, Feb 6th, 2026
12:00pm – 3:15pm US Eastern Time
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About the Event

This workshop will explore and define trauma and the impact of childhood trauma/adversity. We will explore the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study and how the research originated as well as the finding of the study and the linkage between adversity in childhood and the range of vulnerabilities into adulthood to include physical health, behavioral health, academic success, and overall wellbeing. Research data also shows that, although ACEs cross all economic and racial categories, there is a higher prevalence of ACEs in communities of color, underrepresented communities and people with lower economic resources. Participants will explore possible connections between adversity compensatory behaviors to relieve the stress which create health vulnerabilities.

Live Event
This live online event will be held as a Zoom Webinar. Attendees will have the option to interact through features such as the Chat and Q&A, but cameras and microphones will not be enabled.

Live Event Instructor

Donna Lucero

Donna Lucero

Donna Marie Lucero (MA, LPCC, NCC) is a native New Mexican born and raised in Albuquerque, a University of New Mexico graduate (BA in psychology, with a minor in family studies; MA in counseling and a second Masters in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies with a certificate in Race and Social Justice). Donna has well over 30 years of experience working with and for kids and families who have experienced trauma, mental health issues, poverty, and adversity. As well as extensive experience providing professional development/training to over 10,000 participants in various trainings, conferences and workshops. Donna strongly believes in the critical nature of early childhood development and the importance of healthy brain development, attachment and relationship for kids to grow to be healthy, productive adults. She believes strongly in the critical importance of family, community and social support, healthy relationships, movement, music, nature, and activity in helping people heal, grow and thrive. Donna has an extensive experience and training working from a trauma informed lens and strives to assure exemplary quality of care to the clients served from a trauma sensitive perspective. Training is provided based on the most relevant research in the areas of brain development, impact of developmental trauma and the strategies and resources to facilitate healing, mastery and integration over trauma. Donna brings knowledge from multiple models and trainings including trauma, early childhood development, the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics; Attachment, Regulation and Competence; Circle of Security; Nurtured Heart Approach; Nurturing Parenting; Brain Gym; Growing Brain; in addition to a wide range of study and reading in research, theory and practical application. Donna has over 20 years’ experience as a clinical supervisor/clinical director providing ongoing clinical supervision to therapists and various behavioral health workers in agencies whose mission is working with the impact of trauma.

Target Audience

This live interactive webinar is intended for behavioral health professionals, including Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors, MFT's and Addiction Professionals.

Learning Objectives

After taking this activity, you should be able to:

  1. 1 Explain the overall findings of the ACE study and understand how the ACE study originated.
  2. 2 Discuss the connection between early adversity, the stress response system, compensatory behaviors, and wellbeing intoand throughout adulthood.
  3. 3 Identify strategies for prevention and healing to reduce the risk and vulnerability created by early adversity.

Crandall, A., Miller, J. R., Cheung, A., Novilla, L. K., Glade, R., Novilla, M. L. B., ... & Hanson, C. L. (2019). ACEs and counter-ACEs: How positive and negative childhood experiences influence adult health. Child abuse & neglect, 96, 104089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104089

Daines CL, Hansen D, Novilla MLB, Crandall A. Effects of positive and negative childhood experiences on adult family health. BMC Public Health. 2021 Apr 5;21(1):651. doi: 10.1186/s12889-021-10732-w. PMID: 33820532; PMCID: PMC8022401.

Han D, Dieujuste N, Doom JR, Narayan AJ. A systematic review of positive childhood experiences and adult outcomes: Promotive and protective processes for resilience in the context of childhood adversity. Child Abuse Negl. 2023 Oct;144:106346. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106346. Epub 2023 Jul 18. PMID: 37473619; PMCID: PMC10528145.

Liu, R. T. (2017). Childhood adversities and depression in adulthood: Current findings and future directions. Clinical psychology: science and practice, 24(2), 140.

Nagoski, E., & Amelia Nagoski, D. M. A. (2019). Burnout: The secret to unlocking the stress cycle. Ballantine Books.

Narayan, A. J., Lieberman, A. F., & Masten, A. S. (2021). Intergenerational transmission and prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Clinical psychology review, 85, 101997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2021.101997

Novilla LK, Broadbent E, Leavitt B, Crandall A. Examining relationships between positive and adverse childhood experiences with physical and mental health indicators in a low-income adult sample. Child Abuse Negl. 2022 Dec;134:105902. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105902. Epub 2022 Oct 4. PMID: 36201942.

Perry, B. D., & Szalavitz, M. (2017). The boy who was raised as a dog: And other stories from a child psychiatrist's notebook--What traumatized children can teach us about loss, love, and healing. Hachette UK.

Sapolsky, R. M. (2004). Why zebras don't get ulcers: The acclaimed guide to stress, stress-related diseases, and coping. Holt paperbacks.

Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. New York, 3.

Winfrey, O., & Perry, B. (2021). What happened to you?: Conversations on trauma, resilience, and healing. Boxtree.

Disclosure to Learners

CE Learning Systems adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity – including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others ― are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (formerly known as commercial interests).

The following relevant financial relationships have been disclosed by this activity's planners, faculty, and the reviewer:

Planners and Reviewers

The planners of this activity have reported that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Faculty

There are no known relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Course Creator

Donna Lucero MA, LPCC, NCC – None to report.

Commercial support

There is no commercial support for this distance-learning course.

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Joint Accreditation (JA)

3 Psychologist CE credit hours General
3 Social Worker CE credit hours Clinical
3 IPCE CE credit hours General
Eligible until Feb 7th, 2026
In support of improving patient care, CE Learning Systems, LLC, is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
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American Psychological Association (APA)

3 CE credit hours Clinical
Eligible until Feb 7th, 2026
Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.
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Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB ACE)

3 CE credit hours Clinical
Eligible until Feb 7th, 2026
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, CE Learning Systems LLC is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credit(s).
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3 CE credit hours
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3 CE credit hours
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Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (FL CSW, MFT, MHC)

3 CE credit hours CE Broker logo 20-1355284
Eligible until Mar 27th, 2027
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider # 50-315).
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3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Feb 6th, 2026
Impact CE, a service of CE learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Certification Board (FCB) to offer continuing education programs (Provider # 5069A).
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Florida Board of Psychology

3 CE credit hours CE Broker logo 20-1355284
Eligible until Dec 31st, 2036
Impact CE, a service of CE Learning Systems, is approved by the Florida Board of Psychology (Provider # 50-315).
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Missouri Credentialing Board (MCB)

3 CE credit hours
Eligible until Feb 6th, 2026
AddictionCounselorCE is an approved provider of the Missouri Substance Abuse Professional Credentialing Board (Provider #101). AddictionCounselorCE maintains responsibility for this course and its contents.
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New York Education Department Board of Social Work

3 contact hours
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Event Agenda

Agenda times are listed in US Eastern Time. That is 3 hours later than US Pacific Time. The event starts at 9:00am US Pacific Time.

12:00-1:30PM

  • Introductions
  • What is the ACE study and how did it originate?
  • What is the risk?
  • Compensatory Behavior

1:30-1:45PM BREAK

1:45-3:00PM

  • Racial disparities in the prevalence of ACEs
  • Protective Factors Resilience

3:00-3:15PM

  • Closing thoughts
  • Q&A

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