Citation

Melville A. Adv. Soc. Work 2017; 18(1): 53-65.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Indiana University School of Social Work)

DOI

10.18060/21287

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Infants and toddlers are exposed to abuse and neglect at disproportionate rates compared to other children, setting a trajectory for disrupted developmental processes and increased vulnerability to future traumatic exposure. Social workers encounter trauma-exposed young children across a number of systems, including but not limited to early childcare, family physical and mental health, court, and child welfare. It benefits social workers to have a working understanding of current research related to the bio-psycho-social impact of trauma on infants and young children and an awareness of current, research-driven interventions that can support young, at-risk children and families. This article reviews trauma-impacted development throughout the first two years of life with a discussion of current research exploring attachment and brain development and then discusses caregiver-child based interventions that work to repair disrupted attachment patterns, repair impaired regulatory processes, and return the caregiver-child relationship to a healthy developmental path.

Language: en