Individuals
Resisting Retraumitization for Individuals
There are strategies to educate individuals and teach skills that can prevent ACEs: these approaches teach an individual how to solve problems non-violently, for example, as well as create social-emotional learning in schools, teach parenting skills, and increase individual capacity for resilience. However, we can also reduce stigma and increase impact and reach by shifting away from individual responsibility and instead strengthening community solutions that address root causes of ACEs. (CDC, Fast Facts: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences)
There are strategies to educate individuals and teach skills that can prevent ACEs: these approaches teach an individual how to solve problems non-violently, for example, as well as create social-emotional learning in schools, teach parenting skills, and increase individual capacity for resilience. However, we can also reduce stigma and increase impact and reach by shifting away from individual responsibility and instead strengthening community solutions that address root causes of ACEs. (CDC, Fast Facts: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences)
One way to resist at the individual level is through the Protective Factors Framework. The protective factors are conditions in families and communities that, when present, increase the health and well-being of children and families. These attributes serve as buffers, helping parents find resources, support, or coping strategies that allow them to parent effectively, even under stress. The five protective factors are: parental resilience, social and emotional competence of children, parental knowledge of child development and parenting skills, concrete support for parents and social connections.
PARENTAL RESILIENCE
Parents who can cope with the stresses of everyday life, as well an occasional crisis, have resilience; they have the flexibility and inner strength necessary to bounce back when things are not going well.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE OF CHILDREN
Children’s early experiences of being nurtured and developing a positive relationship with caring adult affects all aspects of behavior and development.
PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PARENTING SKILLS
Children thrive when parents provide not only affection, but also respectful communication and listening, consistent rules and expectations, and safe opportunities that promote independence.
CONCRETE SUPPORT FOR PARENTS
Families who can meet their own basic needs for food, clothing, housing, and transportation—and who know how to access essential services such as childcare, health care, and mental health services to address family-specific needs—are better able to ensure the safety and well-being of their children.
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
Parents with a social network of emotionally supportive friends, family, and neighbors often find that it is easier to care for their children and themselves. (https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/resource-hub/protective-factors/)
Additionally, there are many parenting and prevetion programs that work on raising these protective factors within individuals and families. Some examples of these prevention programs include CRM (Community Resilience Model, Resources for Resilience, Triple P, Circle of Secuity and so many more. Examples and descriptions of prevention programs may be found on the Resources page.
“Trauma in a person, decontextualized over time, looks like personality.
Trauma in a family, decontextualized over time, looks like family traits.
Trauma in a people, decontextualized over time, looks like culture.”
– Resmaa Menakem