Alaska children on Medicaid face triple the rate of severe childhood trauma

Young children enrolled in Medicaid in Alaska were far more likely to experience multiple adverse childhood experiences than children not enrolled in Medicaid, according to a December 2023 epidemiology report from the Alaska Department of Health.

The report found that 47% of Alaska 3-year-olds experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, known as an ACE, between 2012 and 2020. Nine percent experienced four or more. Among 3-year-olds enrolled in Medicaid, 15% had four or more ACEs, compared with 3% of children not enrolled in Medicaid.

ACEs include traumatic or destabilizing events such as abuse, household substance misuse, untreated mental illness, domestic violence, parental separation, incarceration, or financial hardship. In Alaska, the most common ACEs for 3-year-olds were financial hardship and parental job loss.

The same pattern appeared among children ages 0 to 17. Medicaid-enrolled children were much more likely to report four or more ACEs, while non-enrolled children were much more likely to report none.

The report also found racial disparities. Black and Alaska Native/American Indian 3-year-olds had the highest rates of four or more ACEs. Among children ages 0 to 17, Alaska Native/American Indian children had the highest rate.

The Department of Health says ACEs can be prevented or reduced through early family support, home visiting, care coordination, behavioral health access, and culturally appropriate prevention programs.