https://doi.org/10.1177/1044389420929618 Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services 1–12 © The Author(s) 2020 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1044389420929618 journals.sagepub.com/home/fis Article Childhood maltreatment can have devastating effects, and studies show that exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have far-reaching consequences throughout the life span. Larkin, Felitti, and Anda (2014) described two decades of research related to ACEs, identifying implications for prevention and intervention. They recommended that social workers advance ACE-informed approaches to professional practice with indi- viduals, families, and communities, but did not comment on ACEs among social workers themselves. Given the prevalence of child- hood maltreatment in the general population, inquiries of ACEs and their impact can be extended to the personal and professional lives of social workers and other health profession- als. Using data from an online survey of licensed social workers in 13 U.S. states, this article presents results regarding ACEs among 5,540 licensed social workers, measuring rates of maltreatment and identifying ways in which these experiences have affected their wellness and workplace-related issues. A Brief Review of the Literature A substantial body of literature examines ACEs, the exploration of childhood maltreat- ment occurring during the first 18 years of 929618FIS XX X 10.1177/1044389420929618Families in SocietySteen et al. research-article 2020 1 PhD, LCSW, associate research scientist, New York University, New York City, USA 2 PhD, LCSW, associate professor, Lehman College, City University of New York, Bronx, NY, USA 3 PhD, LCSW, professor, New York University, New York City, USA Corresponding Author: Jeffrey T. Steen, Silver School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, USA. Email: jeff.steen@nyu.edu Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Licensed Social Workers Jeffrey T. Steen 1 , Evan Senreich 2 , and Shulamith Lala Ashenberg Straussner 3 Abstract Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are predictors of deleterious outcomes in adulthood. Studies of childhood maltreatment among various populations and professions assess the prevalence and scope of ACEs. This article presents findings from a survey of 5,540 licensed social workers in 13 states. The study found that social workers’ mean ACE score was 2.1, and more than 23.6% reported exposure to more four or more ACEs, figures that are higher than ACE scores in most populations. In addition, ACEs were negatively associated with wellness and workplace issues, including physical health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, tobacco, sleep, and workplace stress. The need for additional exploration of ACEs among social workers and implications for social work education and practice are discussed. Keywords adverse childhood experiences, social workers, wellness, workplace issues Manuscript received: February 5, 2020; Revised: April 27, 2020; Accepted: May 3, 2020 Disposition editor: Sondra J. Fogel