 Purpose

ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Overcomers exists to “break the generational cycle of child abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction.” Participants in the ACE Overcomers course “learn the skills of self-awareness, self-efficacy, moral control, self-reflection, emotion regulation, and strategies for promoting emotional expression, mindfulness, resilience, and problem solving techniques.”

 Pricing Summary (subject to change)

Startup costs for a facilitator (facilitator’s guide and online training): $135 

Cost for 10 participants (digital videos and workbooks): $250

 Perspective

ACE Overcomers points out that “people who have experienced six or more adverse childhood experiences on average die 20 years earlier than people raised in a nurturing home.” While the effects of childhood trauma can be long-lasting, ACE Overcomers believes it is possible to retrain the brain and reset the nervous system using science that complements biblical principles. They lean into evidence-based psychology and away from speculative psychological theories.

ACE Overcomers offers a Christian and secular version of their curriculum. The core material is the same, but the versions differ in that the secular version offers supporting quotations from well-known academics and the faith-based version offers biblical support and framing for the scientific insights.

 Structure

ACE Overcomer’s primary course is designed to be taught once a week for 12 weeks. Classes take two hours and can be taught with or without videos. Instruction is evenly split between videos and facilitated discussion/introspection. Learners use a workbook that allows them to take notes and reflect on how the material relates to them.

Spanish workbooks are also available.

 Best For

This curriculum is not focused specifically on people in poverty, but it is simple, broadly relatable, and easy to follow. Because many people in poverty have experienced disproportionate trauma, they are certainly a target audience.

There is also a secular curriculum version (Building Healthy Life Skills) optimized for teenagers and young adults.

Any small nonprofit or church could teach this course. Furthermore, because trauma is universal, you could provide the opportunity for middle and upper-class participants take the class along with your target clients. This could allow them to build relationships around common struggles.

 Evidence That It Works

ACE Overcomers offers the results of a technical analysis of their curriculum by researchers from the University of California, Merced. The research, published in the Journal of Child Abuse & Neglect, concluded “the ACE Overcomers program is associated with moderate to large improvements in emotion regulation skills, psychological resilience, mental health, specific facets of quality of life, and physical health...”

The curriculum also contains an end of course survey that helps you determine the results of the class in your context.

 Cost and Resources

There are two ways to pay for the course. You can either buy the products a la carte or pay the flat annual licensing fee for unlimited access to digital tools and year-round staff and facilitator training.

To teach the course, you will need the DVD set ($150) or Online Streaming Videos ($50). Physical workbooks cost $20 each, or you can get a digital download for $12 per student.

Facilitator training is available online at a cost of $100 per facilitator plus a $35 instructor workbook. It consists of 12 self-paced online lessons and testing. Only one facilitator is needed.

Alternatively, you can pay a flat annual licensing charge for access to the curriculum for $1,500. This provides access to videos, unlimited facilitator training, online staff training, digital workbooks, and supporting tools.

This course requires a basic classroom setup with the ability to play a digital video. If you purchase digital workbooks, you will also need to print off copies for students.

 How to order:

https://aceovercomers.org

 What We Love

This curriculum is practical, simple to facilitate, and scientifically grounded. Even for a student who has experienced no instances of childhood trauma, there is still of wide swath of generally relevant psychology and relational advice. The course covers aspects of parenting, conflict resolution, decision making, addiction recovery, academic performance optimization, and much more. There is something in this course for everyone.

 Considerations

Most of our scientific understanding of the brain is relatively new and will continue to evolve. This does not prevent us from applying the most current lessons, but it should prevent us from being overly dogmatic on minor issues. Additionally, while this course is designed to be facilitated by lay people, any time you teach a class that deals with trauma, it is a good idea to have counseling and/or behavioral health professionals available for referral.