While these concerns are understandable, physicians can work with community partners to develop resources and referral networks.

However, there is some hesitation and doctors often express concerns about opening up a conversation with a patient that they can only be with for a short time frame, broaching subjects that they are not comfortable with and lacking appropriate support and resources for a patient who needs additional help. The AAP is developing recommendations and strategies for best practices in addressing childhood trauma as part of a “medical home” model, including a whole child perspective and universal screening. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has strongly encouraged physicians to screen for ACEs as part of their routine practice. Also, including a parallel conversation about family strengths and resilience can help parents/caregivers heal and protect their children from further adversity.

Supporting parents that experienced trauma as children can help them make the connection between their childhood experiences and current behavior, develop compassion for themselves and choose a more protected path for their own children. Understanding the caregiver’s own trauma history is also crucial, to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of trauma. This involves an important shift in focus from the child to the parent /caregiver to help them protect children from exposure to chronic adversity and build resilience. Physicians, nurses, social workers and other medical providers in obstetric, pediatric and family practices could be used as a front line in intervening in changing the long-term health trajectories of vulnerable children. With this in mind, one area of increasing attention is universal screening for adverse childhood experiences by healthcare providers serving expectant parents, children, and families. In fact, preventing and interrupting the exposure to trauma in childhood may well be one of the most important public health initiatives of our time. Thus, early interventions that limit exposure to adversity and build safe, stable and nurturing environments can have a substantial effect on children’s long-term well-being. Advances in biology, psychology and human development have shown that reducing the exposure to trauma in prenatal and early childhood is crucial for protecting children from the long-term harm of adverse experiences. Research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) has provided strong evidence for the negative effects of trauma on the developing brain and health across the lifespan. Social Workers can support physicians through their expertise in treating trauma, including brief interventions, motivational interviewing, addressing shame, and in building resilience.Pediatricians should consider universally screening for ACEs.We need to shift the focus from child to parent/caregiver to interrupt intergenerational transmission of trauma.Join us for the upcoming Facebook Live Session with the author of this article!īy: Beth Gerlach, Ph.D., LCSW Important to Know: Want to discuss this article more on Facebook Live? Vote for it above! Home » About Us » Blogs » Social Workers Can Collaborate with Physicians to Create ACEs-informed Healthcare Social Workers Can Collaborate with Physicians to Create ACEs-informed Healthcare

Intergenerational trauma social work