ECDV 161 - Adversity, Trauma, and Resiliency in Childhood

3 Credit: (3 lecture, 0 lab, 0 clinical) 3 Contact Hours: [PSYC 120 ]

This course provides a comprehensive review of adverse situations and events that cause stress and/or trauma in children including grief, societal violence, bullying, school violence, war, deployment and loss, abuse and maltreatment, domestic violence, parental mental illness, economic and environmental stressors, displacement, and natural disasters. Students will explore the characteristics and signs of stress/trauma; the effects of trauma on development; resiliency factors; methods to enhance resiliency; and trauma resolution techniques.
Semesters Offered: fall semesters

Course Goals/ Objectives/ Competencies:
Goal 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the various situations that cause childhood adversity.

Articulate the situations that cause stress/trauma at the individual, family, and community levels.
Describe how stress and trauma differ.
Discuss situations that cause stress in children 0-18.
Identify and explain acute, chronic, and compound stressors.
Apply concepts of stress, trauma, and resilience to work with young children.

Goal 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of adversity on cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development in children, and the characteristics, habits, and identifying behaviors of trauma.

Summarize grief in children by cognitive stage.
Describe the effect of fear on overall development.
Discuss how a child’s developmental characteristics influence his or her perception of stressful situations.
Articulate symptoms of children who are experiencing stress and signs of trauma.
Explain how previous life circumstances affect responses to current or new trauma/stress.

Goal 3: Demonstrate an understanding of the effect of secondary trauma on adults.

Describe the signs of secondary trauma in adults.
Discuss self-care techniques, and articulate the importance of incorporating them.
Articulate challenges to preventing secondary or vicarious trauma.
Explain how previous life circumstances affect adult responses to caring for children with trauma.

Goal 4: Demonstrate an understanding of resiliency factors.

Describe individual resiliency factors.
Discuss the effects of early, consistent, responsive care on resilience.
Articulate the importance of family resiliency factors.
Explain the cumulative effects of resiliency factors at the individual, family, and community levels.

Goal 5: Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of models that enhance resiliency in children.

Describe the importance of adults as models and adult/child interactions in promoting resiliency.
Articulate understanding of the impact of altruistic urges and story reframing on resiliency.
Summarize the importance of social-emotional learning as a tool to enhance resiliency.
Explain the role problem solving and decision making in enhancing resiliency.
Identify the resources available to assist adults in enhancing resiliency and reducing stress in children.

Goal 6: Demonstrate an understanding of trauma resolution techniques.

Explain the importance of helping children tell his/her unique story.
Discuss types of play that allow children to release aspects of trauma.
Describe how work with dreams, visualizations, and memories can help with trauma resolution.
Identify the benefits of writing, drawing, discussion, and other forms of expression in trauma resolution.