NCJ Number
236300
Date Published
August 2011
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This bulletin from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, summarizes what child welfare professionals can do to support the identification and assessment of traumatized children and youth.
Abstract
This bulletin is intended for use by child welfare professionals who work with traumatized children. The primary goal of the document is to assist professionals in identifying and assessing the impact of maltreatment on the health brain development of traumatized children. Research has identified eight factors that increase a child's risk for developmental delay. These risk factors include: biomedical risk conditions in a child, such as low birthweight; child maltreatment, particularly before age 3; parental substance use or mental health problem; single and/or teenage parent; low educational attainment of parent; four or more children in the home; family poverty or domestic violence; and involvement with the child welfare system. Information is provided to professionals on understanding trauma and brain development, identifying and assessing children's developmental concerns, identifying the ages and stages of development, providing caregivers with strategies for promoting health brain development, working with other service providers, and creating a trauma-informed child welfare system. Resource information and links to Web sites with helpful information are included in the document. Tables, figures, and references