This brief discusses healthy child development and how it is impacted by trauma. The brief also discusses how resilience and the presence of one or more "protective factors" such as social connections and knowledge of parenting and child development in "the family, community, and greater environment helps combat the negative outcomes of child abuse, neglect, and other types of trauma."

According to data released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), children and youth participating in SAMHSA community-based programs who are involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems demonstrate improved outcomes after receiving trauma-informed services. This includes reduced behavioral and emotional problems, reduced trauma symptoms, reduced substance use problems, improved functioning in school and in the community, and improved ability to build relationships.

Shocking news events, disasters, political violence, and other difficult situations can be difficult to discuss with chidlren. Many adults think children can be shielded from those events, but this fact sheet provides information supporting the importance of keeping communication channels open at those times. Tips are provided for parents to broach difficult topics.