Speaker(s):
Rachel Hanks, MSW, LCSW
Presentation: In 2016, the National Survey of Children’s Health reported that 46% of children under the age of 17 have experienced at least one traumatic event. A single traumatic event is understood to be inherently complex in the most stable of children. However, chronic stress and trauma during those crucial early years of brain development may adversely impact a child’s ability to function and self-regulate. Presenting behaviors of developmental trauma may include aggression, intolerable feelings of distress, attachment issues, developmental delays, dissociation, depression, and sensory processing issues. These issues increase a child’s risk factors for mental illness, poor health outcomes, lowered educational attainment, involvement in the criminal justice system, and can even lower their life expectancy.
When working with young children, it is important to understand the pervasiveness and complexities of these presenting issues in a variety of settings. The principles of play therapy, attachment, and brain development can help a child’s team and family better understand a child’s behavior. From the case management team to home to school, developmentally-appropriate interventions and support can help increase a young child’s ability to self-regulate, attach, heal, and even thrive.
Objectives:
- Identify the effects of chronic trauma and maltreatment on a young child’s development
- Explain the role attachment plays in self-regulation and development
- Identify and describe appropriate interventions for young children with high levels of dysregulation
- Discuss how to best support young children with trauma and their caregivers in a variety of settings
