RESOURCE: Using Relational Health during the Pandemic to Help Prevent Toxic Stress in Your Child, Patients, and Clients

This short and practical paper explains how relationships are vital to health, and what you can do as a health provider to help children and families be healthy in the face of increasing stress and physical distancing. The fear and social isolation associated with COVID-19 are worsening existing chronic stressors, as well as creating new ones for families who are experiencing new kinds of adversity.  People are feeling isolated and alone and have less emotional support than they did prior to the pandemic. Relational health can buffer the impact of the pandemic and other recent events, and health providers can play a key role in using this science to help pediatric patients and their caregivers. The paper also includes strategies you can use to reduce the risk of child maltreatment. The paper was written by Sarah Rock, JD, Rachel Gilgoff, MD, FAAP, and Dr. Ariane Marie-Mitche MD, PhD, MPH as part of the VITAL project.