Screening For Adverse Childhood Experiences Linked To 28 Percentage Point Rise In Children’s Behavioral Health Utilization

After Kaiser Permanente began screening for adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) using the Pediatric ACEs and Related Life-Events Screener (PEARLS) screener, the percentage of children with positive screening who then received behavioral health services within 90 days of the screening increased by 28.2%. This is an increase from just 4.3% before the intervention, to 32.5% after the intervention.

ACEs are events that happen in childhood that can cause trauma, or events that make children feel like their homes are not safe or stable. Kaiser’s adoption of PEARLS began with a pilot clinic in 2021. The pilot . . .