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Home/Resources/Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health/Supporting Young Children Through Uncertain Times: Resources for Stress and Trauma
  • February 6, 2025
Infant and Early Childhood Mental HealthState and Local Policy

Supporting Young Children Through Uncertain Times: Resources for Stress and Trauma

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    Young children and their families are profoundly impacted by trauma, which can have lasting implications for their well-being and development.

    Babies and toddlers often lack the words to convey how they are feeling, leaving caregivers and professionals to interpret a range of unexpected or atypical behaviors. Understanding and supporting young children in these situations requires knowledge, empathy and access to specialized tools and services. 

    This resource center is designed for early childhood development professionals working with families affected by stress or trauma. It offers trauma-informed guidance, tools and connections to help professionals support the unique developmental and emotional needs of young children and their caregivers. 

    Latest news and updates

    Current events and policy changes can have profound effects on families, often increasing stress and even leading to trauma.

    Our federal policy team is deeply involved in shaping decisions that impact the well-being of babies and their families. Stay up-to-date on our latest issues.

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    Recent Issues

    Natural Disasters

    Because babies and toddlers are entirely dependent on their caregivers, their wellbeing is inextricably tied to those who take care of them. Caring, attentive and supportive adults can help alleviate the traumatizing toll that experiencing a natural disaster can have on the child’s developing brain.

    Learn More
    Medicaid

    Medicaid ensures millions of children receive essential care including prenatal care, screenings, sick and well-child visits, dental care and vaccines. Without continued federal support, health care costs for eligible families will shift to states, which will be forced to reduce services or increase costs for families.

    Tell Congress

    Child trauma is defined as any perceived harm or threat of loss that a child experiences or witnesses directly or learns about.

    learn more

    Trauma-informed resources for professionals

    Explore strategies and resources to help professionals provide compassionate, culturally responsive support to babies, toddlers, and their caregivers impacted by trauma and stress.

    From creating safe, nurturing environments to connecting families with mental health and legal resources, there is much we can do to help mitigate the effects of these challenging experiences and foster resilience in children and their families. 

    what is trauma-informed care?

    Trauma-Informed Care

    Trauma-informed care is essential in all early childhood settings, as young children’s early experiences—whether in child care, healthcare, or community programs—shape their emotional and developmental well-being​. By equipping early childhood professionals with trauma-sensitive approaches, we can create safe, supportive environments that help children heal, build resilience, and thrive despite adversity​.

    Trauma-Informed Care in Early Childhood Education

    Implementing trauma training for educators can increase the chances that young traumatized children recover, thrive, and enter kindergarten ready to learn.

    Learn More

    When We Are Scared

    This story was written to help children and grown-ups (parents, teachers, and other important adults) understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them.

     
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    Trauma-Responsiveness in Early Childhood: A Foundational Practice

    This webinar explores trauma language and trauma-responsive efforts to identify structures that bolster child-centered approaches, applicable in child welfare settings and beyond. 

    watch now

    Family Separation

    Family separation—whether due to child welfare involvement, parental incarceration, immigration enforcement, or divorce—can have lasting effects on a young child’s emotional and developmental well-being​. Early childhood professionals play a crucial role in providing trauma-informed support, helping children maintain stable relationships, and ensuring they have the resources needed to navigate these challenging transitions​.

    more on separation and deportation

    Promoting Resilience with Children Impacted by Parental Incarceration

    This ZERO TO THREE Member article discusses how childhood professionals can provide critical supports and services that build on family strengths and foster resilience in children affected by the trauma of parental incarceration.   

     
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    Traumatic Family Separation: Tips for Caregivers

    This tip sheet from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides tips for current caregivers and others to help address the needs of immigrant and refugee children who have experienced traumatic separaton.

    download

    Resources for Families Facing Deportation and Separation

    Guides and reports providing information about family separation due to detention and deportation, safety planning and child welfare for families facing deportation.

    learn more

    Sudden Traumatic Events

    Sudden traumatic events—such as wildfires, hurricanes, or community violence—can disrupt a young child’s sense of security and impact their emotional and developmental well-being​. Early childhood professionals can help by providing trauma-informed care, creating safe and predictable environments, and connecting families to resources that support resilience and healing​.

    Talking Trauma with Young Children

    In this webinar, early childhood experts have a candid conversation about how adults, whether caregivers, early education professionals, or advocates, can navigate tough conversations with young children. 

    watch now

    Compassionate Response

    This free training is for agencies partnering with first responders and offers strategies on scene to mitigate traumatic impacts on young children as well as tips to support their own mental health and well-being. 

    learn more

    Coping with Trauma and Stress in the Face of Wildfires and Natural Disasters

    Guidance and tips for early childhood professionals working with babies and toddlers impacted by natural disasters.

    download

    ACEs, Toxic Stress & Resilience – Caregiver Handouts

    These tip sheets, co-created by ZERO TO THREE and The Center for Youth Wellness, provide practical guidance for current caregivers and others to help prevent and buffer the effects of trauma on babies and toddlers.

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    Lana Shklyar Nenide
    “Providing services and supports to babies and toddlers should be noncontroversial and apolitical. Any disruption or interruption of funding causes significant and unnecessary stress on parents and professionals. We owe it to our children to ensure quality and continuity of care.”
    Lana Shklyar Nenide, MS, IMH-E ®, Executive Director, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

    Wellness Resources for Professionals

    Early childhood professionals dedicate themselves to supporting children and families, but constant exposure to stress and hardship can take a toll. Over time, this can lead to compassion fatigue, impacting both well-being and effectiveness. Professionals in any field are at risk of burnout, but compassion fatigue specifically affects those who provide care to others. We have included some information, strategies and brief practices that can be used throughout the day to care for yourself and stay present with the children and families you work with.

    Buzzwords Explained: Compassion Fatigue

    Learn more about compassion fatigue and download a guide to signs and symptoms. Access tips and suggestions to address compassion fatigue in early childhood professionals.

    Read now

    Mindfulness in Early Childhood

    Mindfulness has been used with adults to reduce stress, bolster overall health and psychological functioning, and assist a return to wellness. Studies show that mindfulness practices that are specific, ongoing, and led by an expert has an impact in early childhood settings.

    learn more

    Reflective Practice

    Reflective practice fosters responsivity versus reactivity. It reduces burnout and promotes psychological safety in teams and in work with families. Our daily checklist can help early childhood professionals make reflective practice part of their routine.

    Download

    IECMH Directory

    This list of IECMH contacts in each state can field inquiries, provide guidance, and connect you to local resources and clinicians specializing in trauma-informed care for infants and toddlers.

    Promoting Research-informed State IECMH Policies and Scaled Initiatives

    This project promotes efforts to achieve positive outcomes for infants and young children by highlighting research-informed infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH) state policies and scaled initiatives. This directory profiles exemplary IECMH strategies used in state policies and scaled initiatives.

    State IECMH Contacts

    State

    Organization

    AlabamaAlabama Association Infant Early Childhood Mental Health
    AlaskaAlaska Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
    ArizonaInfant Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona
    ArkansasArkansas Association for Infant Mental Health
    California

    California Association for Infant Mental Health

    The IECMHC Network

    ColoradoColorado Association for Infant Mental Health
    ConnecticutConnecticut Association for Infant Mental Health
    DelawareDepartment of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
    District of ColumbiaCenter of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
    FloridaFlorida Association for Infant Mental Health
    GeorgiaGeorgia Association for Infant Mental Health
    HawaiiHawaii Association for Infant Mental Health
    IdahoIdaho Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (also known as Aim Early Idaho)
    IllinoisIllinois Association for Infant Mental Health
    IndianaInfancy Onward (formerly Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health)
    IowaIowa Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
    KansasKansas Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
    KentuckyKAIMH
    LouisianaHarris Center for Infant Mental Health
    MaineMaine Association for Infant Mental Health, Inc.
    MarylandInfant Mental Health Association of Maryland/DC
    MassachusettsMassachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health
    MichiganMichigan Association for Infant Mental Health 
    MinnesotaMinnesota Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
    MississippiMississippi Families for Kids
    MissouriMissouri Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
    MontanaMountain Pacific
    NebraskaNebraska Association for Infant Mental Health
    NevadaNevada Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
    New HampshireNew Hampshire Association for Infant Mental Health
    New JerseyNew Jersey Association for Infant Mental Health
    New MexicoNew Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health
    New YorkNew York State Association for Infant Mental Health
    North CarolinaNorth Carolina Infant Mental Health Association
    North DakotaND Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
    OhioOhio Association for Infant Mental Health
    OklahomaOklahoma Association for Infant Mental Health
    OregonOregon Infant Mental Health Association
    PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Association for Infant Mental Health
    Rhode IslandRhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health
    South CarolinaSouth Carolina Association for Infant Mental Health
    South DakotaSouth Dakota Family Engagement Center
    TennesseeAssociation of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee
    TexasFirst3Years Texas (formerly Texas Association for Infant Mental Health)
    UtahUtah Association for Infant Mental Health
    VermontVermont Department of Mental Health
    VirginiaVirginia Association for Infant Mental Health
    WashingtonCenter for Early Relational Health (formerly Washington Association for Infant Mental Health)
    West VirginiaWest Virginia Infant/Toddler Mental Health Association
    WisconsinWisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
    WyomingWyoming Department of Health

    Your Voice Matters: Share Your Story

    Families face stress and trauma from economic shifts, policy changes and crises like natural disasters. Access to mental health support, child care, and family services can make all the difference—but too many still struggle to get help.

    Are you a parent or early childhood professional? How have essential services supported you or the families you work with? What still needs to change?

    Your voice can help shape policies that ensure every child gets the strong start they deserve.

    tell us more
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    What do mental health issues in young children look like?

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    Buzzwords Explained: Compassion Fatigue

    Working hard daily to meet the unique needs of individual children and their families, early childhood professionals are prime candidates for compassion fatigue.
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    What does trauma do to a baby’s brain?

    Trauma can greatly impact the developing and vulnerable minds of young children aged 0-3. However, the impact of trauma can vary depending on some key factors.
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