Helping children heal after parental separations through trauma-informed care
As public officials and communities turn to the task of reuniting and supporting immigrant children and parents separated at the border, they face the difficult but critical work of helping these families heal after the trauma they have endured.
Research is clear on the
negative consequences that forced parental separations have on children. Research also shows that
children can recover and thrive, with appropriate resources and response, even after experiencing a traumatic event. In particular, strong and growing evidence indicates that trauma-informed care (TIC)
can promote resilience among children and families who experience traumatic events or circumstances.
In
our most recent brief, Maria A. Ramos-Olazagasti, a Center investigator, teams up with Jessica Dym Bartlett, a Child Trends expert on early child trauma, to offer research-based guidance for parents, communities, states, and the federal government.
Read more.
Highlights from the field
Resources on traumatic separation for immigrant children
This fact sheet from the National Child Trauma Stress Network includes more than 30 resources with information and suggestions for helping children who experience traumatic separation from a caregiver.
