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Introduction to Childhood Trauma: Resources & Tools for Providers

Child- and family-serving professionals play an important role in helping families break toxic stress cycles and supporting trauma recovery.

In the U.S., more than two-thirds of children have reported at least one traumatic event by age 16. (SAMHSA)

According to SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCSTI), potentially traumatic events – also called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – include:

  • Psychological, physical, or sexual abuse
  • Community or school violence
  • Witnessing or experiencing domestic violence
  • National disasters or terrorism
  • Commercial sexual exploitation
  • Sudden or violent loss of a loved one
  • Refugee or war experiences
  • Military family-related stressors (e.g., deployment, parental loss, or injury)
  • Physical or sexual assault
  • Neglect
  • Serious accidents or life-threatening illness

Of the aforementioned traumatic events, the CDC reports that at least 1 in 7 children have experienced child abuse and/or neglect in the past year, and this is likely an underestimate. Further, more than 60 percent of Californians have experienced at least one ACE, and 16.7 percent have experienced four or more. (CDPH/IVPB)

In California, 1 in 3 kids are at risk of toxic stress. (First 5 California)

What is toxic stress? According to First 5 California’s Stronger Starts website, when kids go through difficult or traumatic experiences or ACEs, it can be very stressful on their minds and bodies. If this stress isn’t addressed, it can build up and become toxic, which can lead to lasting challenges and serious health issues. For adults who have experienced their own trauma, toxic stress can make it harder for parents and caregivers to nurture their own kids, sometimes repeating the cycle of trauma. The best way to protect a child from toxic stress is to build them up before tough things happen. With the right support, they can be prepared if that time comes.

Child- and family-serving professionals play an important role in helping families break toxic stress cycles and supporting trauma recovery. Pulling from prior CalTrin trainings that were delivered within our Trauma-Informed Systems Pillar, the resources highlighted in this blog post provide an overview of child trauma, including the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of trauma on children and their families, and tools for early detection and intervention. 

Childhood Trauma Tools & Resources

California Training Institute (CalTrin)

Hey, that’s us! Access recordings and materials from prior CalTrin trainings related to childhood trauma, keep an eye on the calendar for upcoming webinars and workshops, and explore our relevant resource collections:  

Note: You will need to log in to your CalTrin account to access the self-paced courses and select archived training materials. You can create a free account here.

ACEs Aware

The ACEs Aware initiative is a first-in-the nation effort to screen patients for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to help improve and save lives. ACEs Aware strives to create a better world for children, families, and communities by working together across the health, human services, education, and non-profit sectors to prevent and address the impact of ACEs and toxic stress. Explore the following screening tools available at no cost:

Advancing California’s Trauma-Informed Systems (ACTS)

Advancing California’s Trauma-Informed Systems (ACTS) is a collaboration between the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Office of Child Abuse and Prevention (OCAP) and the Chadwick Center at Rady Children’s Hospital–San Diego. ACTS supports child-serving systems in finding their unique path to advance innovative, trauma-informed change that will support the workforce and lead to improved outcomes for children and families. ACTS has compiled a comprehensive list of evidence-based and trauma-informed resources geared towards child- and family-serving and mental health professionals at all levels. To review a collection of resources focused on supporting caregivers of children and youth who have experienced trauma, click here.

ACTS also developed a series of learning videos to support child-serving systems in advancing trauma-informed practices. Each series consists of 3-5 microlearning videos with a discussion guide to facilitate continued conversation and learning:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC-Kaiser Permanente adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect, household challenges, and later-life health and well-being. The original ACE study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente from 1995 to 1997 with two waves of data collection. Learn more:

Echo

Echo provides trauma and resilience training for families, communities, professionals, and organizations. It draws on the latest scientific research on trauma, emotional regulation techniques, and nonviolent communication to empower survivors and educate those who support them.

The following Echo infographics will help you identify the underlying cause of a child’s behavior and guide you step-by-step in a trauma-informed response:

  • What Lies Beneath Behavior: This handy infographic is designed to help adults—and teachers in particular—use a process of elimination to figure out what’s going on with a child whose behavior is causing concern. It starts with basic human needs and progresses to the more serious impacts of trauma. 
  • What Do I Do?: Trauma-Informed Support for Children: After you’ve worked through the questions in “What Lies Beneath Behavior,” use this infographic for a step-by-step guide to work out a trauma-informed response.

Explore additional Infographics and Videos from Echo.

First 5 California

First 5 California helps lead the movement to create and implement a comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated system for California’s children prenatal through age 5 and their families. Explore resources related to childhood trauma and toxic stress:

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) was created by Congress in 2000 to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for children and families who experience or witness traumatic events. This unique network of frontline providers, family members, researchers, and national partners is committed to changing the course of children’s lives by improving their care and moving scientific gains quickly into practice across the U.S. View the NCTSN’s extensive collection of child trauma resources (información en español), including:

Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

The Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (CCAN) serves to organize the Health Sciences Center’s efforts in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. CCAN directs research, program administration, clinical services, professional education, program development, and public education in the field of child maltreatment.

CCAN’s Child Trauma Services program created the following resources:

PACES Connection

PACEs Connection is the human and digital catalyst that unites the people, organizations, systems, and communities in the worldwide PACEs (positive & adverse childhood experiences) movement. It serves as a main information exchange and resource, and support for hundreds of local, state, and national ACEs initiatives. Explore resources, including:

Sesame Workshop

The more you know about traumatic experiences, the more of a difference you can make in children’s lives. Sesame Workshop has created a Traumatic Experiences resource hub featuring articles, videos, printables, games, trainings, and more geared toward helping children ages 0-6 and grownups work through traumatic experiences. These materials are also available in Spanish (en Español).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

SAMHSA’s National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative (NCSTI) provides information on the prevalence and impact of traumatic events on children, and what actions can be taken to support children who experience traumatic events:

Trauma ScreenTIME

Trauma screening is a crucial first step toward identifying and connecting children and families who have experienced trauma with support and appropriate services, including evidence-based treatment. Trauma ScreenTIME, developed by the Child Health and Development Institute in collaboration with families and national experts including the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, is an online training course on how to screen children for trauma. ScreenTIME provides staff working with children and youth the knowledge to effectively screen children for trauma and connect families with their preferred supports and services to help children recover from the effects of trauma exposure. The course is available at no cost to child-serving professionals. Continuing education credits are available. To take the course, visit www.traumascreentime.org.

ZERO TO THREE

Additional Tools, Handouts, & Briefs

American Academy of Pediatrics: Ages & Stages

Attachment, Regulation & Competency (ARC) Framework

Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center: Helping Children Cope in Difficult Times

Child-Parent Psychotherapy: About CPP

Child Welfare Information Gateway: Child Maltreatment and Brain Development: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals

National Institute of Mental Health: Publications About Coping with Traumatic Events

PCIT International: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Social Emotional Workshop: Feelings Thermometers

Stress and Development Lab, University of Washington: Trauma & the Brain

Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services (SAMHSA): Immediate and Delayed Reactions to Trauma (PDF)

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs: PTSD Coach App (Apple/Android) (Available in English and Spanish)

Watch & Listen

Recommended Readings

The following books and articles were recommended by presenters during various CalTrin trainings related to child trauma:

 

*Last updated November 19, 2024

 

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