“Resilience to the Rescue” featured a discussion on the impact of trauma and how individuals, families and organizations can provide the services needed to help young children build up resilience.
Early childhood trauma can result from physical or sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence, or as the result of natural disasters, accidents or war. Young children also may experience traumatic stress in response to painful medical procedures or the sudden loss of a parent or caregiver.
The impact of these traumas have been linked to a wide range of emotional, behavioral and physical health effects that can last a lifetime, including learning disabilities, depression, suicidal tendencies and higher rates of chronic disease like cancer and diabetes.
But many traumas, and the resulting consequences, can be prevented through integrated intervention and education. Though children are particularly vulnerable to trauma, they are also resilient, and have the capacity to bounce back from even the most horrific experiences.
“Resilience to the Rescue! Conquering Kids’ Trauma” featured presentations by Kathleen M. Connors, MSW, LCSW-C, program director of the Taghi Modarressi Center for Infant Study/Secure Starts, project director of the Family-Informed Trauma Treatment Center and clinical instructor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD; and Jody Todd Manly, Ph.D., clinical director and research associate at the Mt. Hope Family Center in Rochester, NY and assistant professor in the clinical and social sciences at the University of Rochester.
“Resilience to the Rescue” was the second session in our series “Speaking of Health in CNY: Discussions on Topics that Matter.” The speaker series supports the central New York community in improving the health of its residents by providing a forum to share best practices and successful efforts from other communities.
Document: Kids Trauma Research Brief
