Trauma-Informed Care: Recognize, Respond, and Empower with Relationships to Help Children and Families Thrive
Many children and families have experienced trauma - whether that's trauma that occurs within the household, like substance use, parental mental illness, abuse or neglect; or trauma that occurs in the community, like community violence, poverty and others. Pediatricians may not always know which of their patients and families have experienced trauma - that's why the AAP recommends trauma-informed care as a universal approach to pediatric care.
Learn More About Trauma-Informed Pediatric Care
The National Center for Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care empowers pediatricians and pediatric health care professionals with a universal approach that promotes safe, stable and nurturing relationships and the resources to recognize, assess and treat trauma to help children and families thrive.
For the official press release announcing the National Center, click here.
Click here to learn more about the National Center, or contact us.
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What's New
Webinar | Trauma-Informed Care: How to Start if You Only Have 5 Minutes (and How to Do More with 10 or 15 Minutes)
April 1, 2025 - 12:00pm – 1:00pm CT | Register
Most pediatric health care professionals have learned about the basic physiology of trauma, understand that childhood adversity can have health consequences through the life span, and have sat through at least a lecture or two on how to implement trauma-informed care. But in busy practice, it can feel like there’s not enough time to integrate this knowledge. In this webinar, Drs Heather Forkey and Moira Szilagyi will share practical tips to integrate principles of trauma-informed care when you only have 5, 10, or 15 minutes. The presentation will be followed by a Q and A session. Register here.
Webinar
|March 21, 2025
AAP Recommendations
The AAP provides recommendations and guidelines to support pediatricians, other pediatric health care professionals and health care systems in the implementation of trauma-informed care.
AAP Clinical Report: Trauma-Informed Care
AAP Policy Statement: Trauma-Informed Care in Child Health Systems
Education & Training
Pediatricians and pediatric health care professionals are uniquely positioned to partner with families and support children who have experienced trauma. This makes it vital that pediatric health care professionals know how to recognize and respond to symptoms of trauma, understand the potential impact on development, behavior, and health and nurture relationships that can buffer the impact of trauma.
Interested in learning more about taking a trauma-informed approach to care? Explore the options below.
For Self-Directed Learning For Pediatric Trainees
Education and training opportunities for pediatric clinic staff are coming soon.
Resources to Share with Families
It is important for families to understand that trauma and toxic stress can be prevented, and recovery is possible if trauma has occurred. Share resources such as infographics, articles and parenting tips, available in English and Spanish to empower families with strategies for building resilience.
Additional Resources
These resources provide information and guidance to support pediatricians in taking a trauma-informed approach to pediatric care.
Communications and Media
These tools provide additional information about trauma-informed care and related concepts.
Practicing Trauma-informed Care in Pediatric Settings
Stress and the Healing Power of Connection
The Power of Relationships in Pediatric Care: Uncovering Trauma & Adversity
Stay Up-To-Date on New Resources
The National Center for Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care team is continuously working on developing new resources. Sign up to be added to our bi-monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on available resources, events and relevant updates regarding trauma-informed care and relational health.