Young Children and Trauma

Joy D. Osofsky, PhD, a psychologist and psychoanalyst, is Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (LSUHSC) in New Orleans. She is President of Zero to Three/National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families; past president of the World Association for Infant Mental Health; and Director of the Violence Intervention Program for Children and Families and the LSUHSC Harris Center for Infant Mental Health. Following Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Osofsky was asked to serve as Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Initiatives for Louisiana Spirit for the Louisiana State Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Mental Health. She is editor or coeditor of Young Children and Trauma, Children in a Violent Society, Handbook of Infant Development, and WAIMH Handbook of Infant Mental Health; and editor of the Infant Mental Health Journal. Dr. Osofsky's research, intervention, and clinical work with infants, children, and families at high psychosocial risk have been recognized with honors and awards from Division 37 of the American Psychological Association, the Juvenile Court Judges of the 11th Judicial Circuit, and the New Orleans City Council, among others.

Part 1: Background and Perspectives: Providing the Foundations for Understanding. Introduction: Different Ways of Understanding Young Children and Trauma. Lewis, Ippen, Rainbows of Tears, Souls Full of Hope: Cultural Issues Related to Young Children and Trauma. Hinshaw-Fuselier, Heller, Parton, Robinson, Boris, Trauma and Attachment: The Case for Disrupted Attachment Disorder. Schuder, Lyons-Ruth, 'Hidden Trauma' in Infancy: Attachment, Fearful Arousal, and Early Dysfunction of the Stress Response System. Part 2: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Introduction: What Are We Assessing for, and Why? Lieberman, van Horn, Assessment and Treatment of Young Children Exposed to Traumatic Events. Klapper, Plummer, Harmon, Diagnostic and Treatment Issues in Cases of Childhood Trauma. Larrieu, Bellow, Relationship Assessment for Young Traumatized Children. Groves, Augustyn, Identification, Assessment, and Intervention for Young Traumatized Children within a Pediatric Setting. Gaensbauer, Traumatized Young Children: Assessment and Treatment Processes. Part 3: How to Reach Seriously Traumatized Children Earlier. Introduction: Collaborations for Young Children with Juvenile Courts, Law Enforcement, and Child Welfare. Osofsky, Lederman, Healing the Child in Juvenile Court. Van Horn, Hitchens, Partnerships for Young Children in Court: How Judges Shape Collaborations Serving Traumatized Children. Smyke, Wajda-Johnston, Zeanah, Working with Traumatized Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System. Osofsky, Hammer, Freeman, Rovaris, How Law Enforcement and Mental Health Professionals Can Partner to Help Traumatized Children. Part 4: Directions for the Future. Bosquet, How Research Informs Clinical Work with Traumatized Young Children. Osofsky, Perspectives on Work with Traumatized Young Children: How to Deal with Feelings Emerging from Trauma Work.