Access to U.S. welfare programs, specifically Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is examined as a strategy to prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Research using data from the University of Kentucky’s National Welfare Data and National Survey of Children’s Health (2016-2022) shows that increased TANF access is linked to lower rates of parental mental illness and incarceration. Specifically, each increase in TANF access predicts a decrease in parental mental health issues and incarceration rates, though the latter effect is less pronounced when adjusted for child-level factors. In contrast, access to SNAP is associated with slight increases in neighborhood violence and parental substance use. These findings indicate that TANF may provide protective benefits against ACEs, while the results regarding SNAP differ from previous studies and suggest the need for further investigation into the program’s impacts. The study highlights how the effectiveness of welfare programs can depend on broader social contexts, emphasizing the complexity of their roles in child welfare.