Issue Brief 66: Engaging Pediatric Primary Care to Address Childhood Trauma
Engaging Pediatric Primary Care to Address Childhood Trauma: Part of a Comprehensive Public Health Approach
Early identification of trauma exposure and treatment of traumatic stress is critical to a child’s lifelong health and well-being. Exposure to trauma is common, with approximately 71% of all children exposed to violence, abuse, or other forms of trauma by 17 years of age. Trauma exposure places children at increased risk for a host of developmental, behavioral health, and health problems. For example, childhood trauma exposure is associated with traumatic stress (including post-traumatic stress disorder) as well as chronic health and mental health problems through adulthood, including heart disease, obesity, substance abuse, diabetes, suicide, emphysema, and premature death. However, many children suffering from trauma exposure are not identified or do not receive effective treatment services.
This Issue Brief describes the important role of pediatric primary care providers in identifying and treating children exposed to trauma as one part of a comprehensive, state-level, public health approach to prevention, early identification, and access to evidence-based treatment.
This Issue Brief was prepared by Susan Macary, Jason Lang, Lisa Honigfeld, and Kyle Barrette. For more information, contact Jason Lang.