FACT SHEET
Training and
Evidence
ABOUT
The ARN Training and Evidence Team supports states in turning the science of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress physiology into real-world action.
The team develops and adapts practical training and tools that help healthcare providers, community organizations, and other partners understand how adversity affects health across the lifespan and what can be done to support healing and resilience. By working closely with state partners, the team helps build shared knowledge, strengthen skills, and support consistent, effective approaches across systems.
OBJECTIVES
The Training and Evidence Team is focused on supporting state implementation of ACE screening and response through building scalable, sustainable systems to prevent and mitigate toxic stress physiology. Key objectives include:
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Align training on ACEs and toxic stress physiology with state Medicaid policies and requirements to support sustainable financing, uptake, and integration into care delivery systems.
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Adapt and disseminate evidence-informed training materials on ACEs and toxic stress physiology that support early identification and response, enabling consistent implementation across sectors while allowing for state-specific customization.
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Build workforce capacity across healthcare, public health, and community settings to support coordinated, trauma-informed approaches at scale.
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Advance trauma-informed networks of care to support early identification of ACEs and toxic stress risk, and to prevent and mitigate the effects of toxic stress physiology by building coordinated, cross-sector systems that link clinical care, public health, and community-based services, with shared pathways for screening, referral, care coordination, and longitudinal follow-up.
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Translate evidence on ACEs and toxic stress physiology into scalable implementation strategies that support early identification and effective response, moving efforts from training to practice to system-wide adoption.
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Learn from implementation and use data to continuously improve efforts over time, helping states prevent and mitigate the effects of toxic stress physiology and promote long-term health and well-being across populations.
