By J.S. McCrae, A. Spain, K. Byers, A. Sander, and J. Axelrod, Chapin Hall at The University of Chicago, October 2019
Overview
Experiencing and learning how to manage stress is
a normal part of child development. But when
children experience stress for prolonged periods,
without the supportive response of an adult to
mitigate the experience, that stress can be toxic. A
growing body of research documents the negative
effects of toxic stress on children’s long-term wellbeing, highlighting significant costs to the health
and well-being of communities. However, there
has been limited attention given to how healthcare
and community service systems can apply an
integrated approach to reduce service barriers,
engage families, and improve outcomes for children
at risk for or exposed to toxic stress.
Context
Pediatric primary care clinics are often the front line to
identifying children who may be experiencing toxic
stress. These clinics serve as a universal and nonstigmatized entry point to family services. Across the
country, pediatric clinics are partnering with the Center
for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Help Me Grow
National Center (HMG) to implement innovations that
promote family-centered care and service coordination
to prevent and mitigate toxic stress.
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