An Introduction to Trauma and Maltreatment
The Child Mind Institute offers several articles written for parents about children exposed to traumatic events or maltreatment. Articles are organized by the type of adversity with special sections on PTSD, grief, and traumatic events in school.
ACES
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris provides an overview of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) and the way the original ACES study changed her clinical practice as a pediatrician. This excellent talk covers important concepts like dose-response relationships, the HPA axis, and viewing ACES as a public health problem. Her talk also emphasizes the importance of using science to guide public policy and clinical practice.Â
PEARLS
The Pediatric ACES and Related Life Events Screener (PEARLS) is a brief questionnaire that mental health professionals can use to screen children for exposure to trauma and adversity. The first page of the PEARLS measures the traditional ACES. The second page measures other adverse life experiences that can affect development such as neighborhood violence, food and housing insecurity, foster care placement, and discrimination. You can see it here.
ACE Screening with a Child and Parent
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario produced two excellent videos showing how a mental health provider might screen for ACES in a child (left) and parent (right), respectively. As you watch the video, notice how the clinician establishes rapport with the client and shows respect when assessing each adverse experience. Note that these videos contain questions about child maltreatment.
PTSD Symptoms in Young Children
As families try to adjust to the aftermath of the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, some parents and caregivers are noticing kids processing the trauma through their play. Listen to the NPR story here.