The American Academy of Pediatrics is out with a new guide focused on helping foster and adoptive families cope with trauma. The purpose of this guide is to support adoptive and foster families by strengthening the abilities of pediatricians to:1) identify traumatized children, 2) educate families about toxic stress and the possible biological, behavioral, and social manifestations of early childhood trauma, and 3) empower families to respond to their child’s behavior in a manner that acknowledges past trauma but promotes the learning of new, more adaptive reactions to stress.
Population of focus: Children and adolescents
Links to resource:
- Guide: Helping Foster and Adoptive Families Cope with Trauma (pdf)
- News article on the Children’s Mental Health Network website
Date: 2013
Organization: American Academy of Pediatrics