All Children Excel (ACE) Nashville

Established in 2015, All Children Excel: ACE Nashville is a public/private collective impact initiative using a Public Health approach to address the problem of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) that is recognized to be a leading cause of early morbidity and mortality, health disparities, severe/persistent mental illness, addiction and incarceration. The mission of ACE Nashville is to prevent and mitigate the lifelong impact of childhood adversity to improve the safety, health and prosperity of our community. Through advocacy, the agency seeks to improve health for Tennesseans by securing funding to sustain and expand Metro Nashville’s Trauma-Informed Schools initiative to replace an outdated and ineffective system that is overly focused on control and compliance – a highly punitive approach to discipline that furthers distress – to create more compassionate school environments while still maintaining high expectations. ACE Nashville will also increase the number of government and nonprofit entities adopting a trauma-informed approach into their policies, programs, and practices.