New research has expanded the concept of adverse childhood experiences to include the impact of the community on family and child well-being. It’s also broadened the scope of the original ACE study to include people of color and people with lower incomes. Dr. Wendy Ellis of George Washington University coined the term “The Pair of ACEs” to describe how adverse community experiences—such as poor-quality housing, lack of employment, and lack of access to healthcare—are root causes of chronic stress. Such stress leads to chronic mental and physical health problems.