Talking with Early Head Start and Head Start staff and Families

Talking with Early Head Start and Head Start staff and Families

kid riding carousel

Provide information

  • Convey basic information about trauma and the impact of trauma on young children and families
  • Describe how trauma and the response to trauma can influence development and emerge as challenging behavior
  • Emphasize resilience and the importance of caring relationships
  • With appropriate permission, provide additional information about a specific child and family

Provide hope

  • Share information about resilience in children, adolescents and families
  • Help teachers and staff avoid “assumptions” and seeing traumatic experience as “destiny” for the child or family
  • Provide practical suggestions and encouragement, building the capacity of teachers and staff to respond to children and families impacted by trauma

(Adapted from Blumenfeld, et al, 2010, used with permission)

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This product was developed [in part] under grant number 1H79SM082070-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS.