Betsy McAlister Groves
Learning Resources
Required Resources
Course Text: Rice, K. F., & Groves, B. M. (2005). Hope and healing: A caregiver’s guide to helping young children affected by trauma. Washington, DC: Zero to Three.
Section 1, “Defining Trauma” (pp. 3–5)
Section 2, “The Impact of Trauma on Young Children” (pp. 7–15)
Section 4, “Supporting Families Affected by Trauma” (pp. 39–45)
Section 5, “On the Job: Stress and Coping for the Early Childhood Professional” (pp. 47–51)
Course Text: Concepts for Care: 20 Essays on Infant/Toddler Development and Learning
“Stress, Nurture, and the Young Brain” by Megan Gunnar (pp. 41–44)
“Working with Traumatized Young Children in Child Care and Education Settings” by Alicia F. Lieberman (pp. 77–83)
Optional Resources
Web Article: Onunaku, N. (2005). Improving maternal and infant mental health: Focus on maternal depression. Retrieved from Zero to Three website: http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Promoting_Social_and_Emotional_Development.pdf?docID=2081&AddInterest=1144
Web Article: Knitzer, J., Theberge, S., & Johnson, K. (2008). Reducing maternal depression and its impact on young children: Toward a responsive early childhood policy framework. Retrieved from National Center for Children in Poverty website: http://www.nccp.org/publications/pub_791.html
Web Article: Bilmes, J., & Heroman, C. (2005). Helping children rebound: Strategies for infant and toddler teachers after the 2005 hurricanes. Retrieved from http://www.teachingstrategies.com/content/pageDocs/Katrina_1005_final_web.pdf
Stress and Coping Strategies
Early childhood professionals who work with traumatized children are exposed to unique and intense stressors that can have a strong impact on the caregiver’s physical and emotional well-being.
—Kathleen Fitzgerald Rice and Betsy McAlister Groves, Hope and Healing (p. 48)
Supporting infant/toddler mental health requires careful attention to the strengths and challenges faced by individual children and their families. As well, it is critical that professionals support and nurture themselves within their potentially psychologically demanding role. This self-care is particularly necessary when working with families who are suspected of engaging in child abuse or neglect.
Imagine that your colleague, who you highly respect, has followed the law of mandated reporting and recently reported a suspected case of abuse and neglect to the proper authorities in your state. Consider the myriad stressors and related feelings she might be experiencing in issuing this report, and reflect on what you have learned in Section 5 of Hope and Healing: A Caregiver’s Guide to Helping Young Children Affected by Trauma.
By Day 3:
Post a description of the unique stressors and related feelings your colleague may be experiencing in this situation, and advice you would give her related to practicing effective self-care.
