Los Angeles- 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.”
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.”
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:
- Trauma and Resiliency Informed Systems Change Workgroup – In partnership with The California Endowment, the California Community Foundation, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, and Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, First 5 LA pooled together more than $200,000 in funds to launch a countywide trauma-informed care systems change initiative with the commitment of more than 30 public, nonprofit and philanthropic partners. The first phase of this initiative was to issue a report and recommendations based upon the latest research and trauma-informed systems change efforts from across the nation. Using these recommendations as a guide, the funders and county-wide partners will begin to plan and advance specific activities to create a trauma and resiliency informed Los Angeles County. For access to the report, visit http://www.first5la.org/files/Trauma.pdf
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To read the full report and recommendations, visit www.first5la.org/files/ChildHomelessnessTrauma.pdf
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