National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives
A professional organization dedicated to translating scientific knowledge from the field of prevention science into effective and sustainable practices, systems and policies.
PACEs Connection Reopens as a Division of NPSC
We’re excited to share that PACEs Connection (Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences) is back—revitalized and now operating as a division of the National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives (NPSC). After going offline in April of 2024 due to a sudden loss of funding, the social networking site and community are once again active, thanks to the tireless efforts of longtime team members Carey Sipp and Dana Brown, and the support of their new mission-aligned nonprofit home, NPSC.
Dana Brown, Vincent Felitti, MD, co-author of the 1998 Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, and Carey Sipp in San Diego in January, 2024. Brown and Sipp are the former PACEs Connection employees who, as volunteers, are leading the effort to revitalize the PACEs Connection social network.
With over 61,000 members, PACEs Connection is widely recognized for its leadership in promoting trauma-reduction and resilience-building strategies. It serves as a national vehicle for networking, connection, and dissemination of evidence-based tools, guidance, and stories from the field. The PACEs Connection mission is prevention-oriented, advocating for the uptake of science-based practices and programs to reduce the prevalence of trauma, focusing on both root causes (e.g., systemic poverty, racism, inequities, lack of opportunity) and the adversities those conditions can provoke. The social networking site supports individuals, organizations, and communities in sharing practices, shaping policy, and fostering stronger, trauma-informed communities.
To explore the origins of PACEs Connection and its founding by journalist Jane Stevens, as well as its connection to the original ACE Study by Dr. Vincent Felitti, click here.
PACEs Connection membership is free and open to the public. We would love to have you join and become a PACEs Connection member to support the journey to creating a trauma-informed world! Click here to find a list of communities by location and by interest. Members are welcome to join as many communities as you like, and we encourage you to do so!
A Natural Partnership: NPSC & PACEs Connection
As of November 2024, NPSC now serves as PACEs Connection’s fiscal agent—but more importantly, this marks the beginning of a deeper collaboration designed to significantly expand our shared impact. NPSC brings infrastructure, a national network, and a science-policy-practice bridge that aligns with PACEs Connection’s mission to promote prevention-oriented, trauma-informed systems.
Together, this partnership enables us both to reach a broader spectrum of stakeholders — from community representatives, practitioners, and local officials, to state and federal agency admins and policymakers — with critical guidance from the body of knowledge and well-tested best practices and policies that prevention science has generated. Our combined networks will support the translation of prevention science into practical action, helping to address not just the symptoms of trauma, but also its root causes, including systemic poverty, racism, inequity, and lack of opportunity.
NPSC is a national nonprofit coalition that promotes the use of science to prevent problems before they surface and become entrenched. Its 70+ partner organizations make it a natural home for PACEs Connection’s mission and reach.
Where We Are Now
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The social network site is once again open. Members can post and engage in various communities, following the established trauma-informed community guidelines.
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PACEs Connection is actively updating the site, reenergizing community pages, reconnecting with leaders across the network, and much more.
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New content is in the works, including updates on media coverage of ACEs and ongoing research into the power of community storytelling.
The Road Ahead
While we celebrate this exciting step forward for PACEs Connection and are proud of their dedication to meet immediate funding needs, there are still on-going expenses that we encourage our members to donate towards. However, now that the most urgent deadlines have been addressed, PACEs Connection and NPSC are turning their focus toward launching a strategic planning process to shape a comprehensive, long-term sustainability plan. This will include platform upgrades, staffing, expanded content, and member-driven engagement priorities. There will be more exciting news to share in the near future. Stay tuned!
How You Can Help
Your tax-deductible donation will ensure PACEs Connection remains a vital resource for those working to build trauma-informed communities. No donation is too small! Together, we can empower healing and foster resilience. Join PACEs Connection and NPSC in this essential mission—your support makes all the difference.
✅ Donate Online
✉️ Donate by Mail
Make checks payable to:
National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives
Include “PACEs Connection” in the memo line.
Mail to:
Dana Brown
4364 Bonita Road, PMB 322
Bonita, CA 91902
🔁 Wire Transfers or Other Gifts
Email Carey Sipp for details.