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Report Names Lasting, Traumatic Effects of Homelessness on Young Children in L.A. County, First 5 LA Calls for Trauma-informed Approach to Help Kids


LOS ANGELES, Nov. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- First 5 LA today released a report that explores how homelessness and trauma affects young children, as well as recommendations for effectively improving outcomes for children and families experiencing homelessness.

The National Center on Family Homelessness estimates that 2.5 million children in America go to sleep without a place to call home each year. In Los Angeles County, First 5 LA estimates that roughly 3,000 children under age six are homeless on any given night. While homelessness is traumatic for adults, the effects on young children who are still developing physically, mentally, socially and emotionally can be devastating.

"Trauma has troubling long term implications for children in their early years when research tells us that 90 percent of brain development occurs by age five," said Kim Belshé, Executive Director of First 5 LA. "We can't afford to overlook the lasting effect stress and trauma has on a child's life as he or she becomes an adult."

Children experiencing homelessness must deal with fears that their most basic needs won't be met. The loss of community, possessions, routines, privacy and security is highly stressful and can lead to anxiety, depression, withdrawal and aggression at a rate three times higher than children who are not homeless. These children are often at a physical disadvantage as well ? they are sick at twice the rate of other children and have higher rates of obesity relative to the national average.

In terms of academic success, children who have experienced homelessness were found to have lower classroom engagement and lower scores in reading, math and general cognitive ability. These disparities between homeless and non-homeless children extend to overall educational achievement, with homeless children being twice as likely to repeat a grade and to be diagnosed with a learning disability.

While it is important to recognize the profound impact of homelessness and trauma on youth, positive research and promising practices show how organizations and systems can help prevent the exposure to  the effects of trauma by focusing on healing and resiliency.

"Exposure to trauma often goes unrecognized and unaddressed. Research on optimal child development has shown the positive impact of early intervention programs on building resilience and preventing risk factors for homelessness from developing," said Dr. Pegah Faed, Senior Program Officer. "Infusing a trauma informed approach throughout child and family service delivery systems is critical to building the capacity of providers to recognize trauma and intervene appropriately."

Safe and nurturing relationships can be strengthened by implementing trauma-informed approaches throughout the systems of health and mental care with which families with children prenatal to 5 interact. Regardless of the type of service provided, a trauma-informed approach is increasingly considered a key component and standard of quality care.

As the National Center on Family Homelessness notes, providing trauma-informed care requires an organizational commitment to building the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to create service environments that acknowledge the impact of trauma and support recovery and healing. First 5 LA, in collaboration with its partners, is advocating and taking a number of steps to promote and implement a trauma-informed approach throughout L.A. County, including:

"Understanding the connections between homelessness and trauma is an essential step in informing how these issues can be prevented and successfully addressed by the systems and staff that serve young children and their families," said Dr. Sharon Murphy, Strategic Partnerships Manager, First 5 LA.

To read the full report and recommendations, visit www.first5la.org/files/ChildHomelessnessTrauma.pdf

ABOUT FIRST 5 LA
First 5 LA is a leading early childhood advocacy and public grantmaking organization created by California voters to invest Proposition 10 tobacco tax revenues in Los Angeles County. In partnership with others, First 5 LA strengthens families, communities, and systems of services and supports so that all children in L.A. County enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life. Please visit www.first5la.org for more information.

 

SOURCE First 5 LA



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