Issue Brief 66 - Engaging Pediatric Primary Care to Address Childhood Trauma: Part of a Comprehensive Public Health Approach [chdi.org]

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.¹   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.² However, many children suffering from trauma exposure are not identified or do not receive effective treatment services. Pediatric primary care can play an important role 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.

Primary Care Plays a Critical Role in Identifying and Supporting Children Exposed to Trauma

Recognizing the public health impact of childhood trauma exposure, a goal of the Connecticut State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), led by the Department of Public Health (DPH), is to increase the number of children and adults screened for trauma by primary care and behavioral health providers.³ Pediatric primary care is well positioned to identify child trauma exposure and related symptoms given that more than 90% of children attend an annual well-child visit and many visit the pediatrician’s office several times per year.⁴ Screening for trauma in pediatric primary care also affords the opportunity for pediatricians to evaluate and provide more holistic treatment for the physical health conditions that can be associated with trauma exposure. 

Pediatric primary care plays a critical role in:

• Proper and early identification of trauma exposure and related symptoms, and talking with families about the effects of trauma
• Identifying and supporting family strengths and resilience that help prevent or mitigate the psychological and physical effects of trauma exposure
• Connecting children and families to appropriate, evidence-based, trauma-focused treatments and services.

[For more on this brief, go to https://www.chdi.org/publicati...ss-childhood-trauma/]