California Looks To Lead Nation In Unraveling Childhood Trauma [californiahealthline.org]

It may shame families if they are approached as being the cause of their children’s adverse health.  However, if they are approached with positive support for their children and themselves--without blame--this shaming could be avoided.  The fact is that sadly, many families and caregivers/parents/guardians do create toxic environments for the children in their lives.  Although not usually intentional, home environments often become toxic because they hark back to the neglect or abuse that parents/caregivers/guardians experienced when they were children.  In a holistic approach, the ACEs-based healing can be extended, without judgment, not only to the children but also to their parents/caregivers/guardians.

I learned how to be respectful of parents in homes where stress was high, and abuse or neglect was present.  As a social worker in an in-home program at the San Joaquin County Child Abuse Prevention Council, that was all of my clients.  I always considered the parent as a client, in addition to the child.  Having compassion for parents who abused or neglected their children was the most important way that I could intervene and help the family heal and keep children safe.  It wasn’t always easy, but it was an important tool to make things better for the high-risk families and children in our program.