Essentials for Childhood

In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a funded program focused on preventing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and promoting positive childhood experiences (PCEs).These efforts will help reduce leading causes of death, mental health challenges, health risk behaviors such as substance use, and verified reports of child abuse and neglect. Twelve states, including Nevada, received a five-year cooperative agreement to: 1) Improve ACEs and PCEs surveillance infrastructure and capacity; 2) Implement and evaluate upstream ACEs prevention strategies; and 3) use ACEs/PCEs data for action.

Nevada Essentials for Childhood (NV EfC) is a partnership between the UNR School of Public Health, UNLV’s Nevada Institute for Children’s Research & Policy, and multisector stakeholders and communities across the state. Our surveillance, research, prevention, and evaluation efforts are focused on building safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments that can prevent early life adversity and assure that all children reach their full potential. Two NV EfC subcommittees meet regularly to guide program activities: 1) Surveillance-Data to Action; and 2) the Strategic Planning-Evaluation.