Supporting Children Facing Trauma
Supporting children who are facing trauma is a major part of the Head Start Heals campaign. Knowing the signs, symptoms, and supports for children who have experienced trauma fosters healing and resiliency.
Mental Health
Head Start programs support the mental health of children, families, and staff every day. Early childhood mental health is the same as social and emotional well-being. It is a child’s developing capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore, and learn—all in the cultural context of family and community. The mental health of children and the adults that care for them is essential for school readiness.
Trauma-informed Care Program Systems
Learn how to use the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework to strengthen trauma-informed care. Find examples of how to support trauma-informed care and healing in programs and in systems of care.
Defining Trauma
Increase your knowledge and skills about trauma. Learn the definition of trauma, how we respond to traumatic events, and how traumatic events affect families.
Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Others
Learn about reactions to others’ trauma and how to respond. We need to take care of ourselves when we work with people who have experienced trauma. The effects of those experiences on them can affect us, too.
Strengthening Staff Trauma-informed Practices
Learn how to strengthen trauma-informed practices for staff. Review strategies staff can use to practice trauma-informed care. Find examples of how to support staff in a trauma-informed program.
Coping and Healing
Review strategies for coping with and healing from trauma. Learn how families’ strengths help the healing process.
Supporting Social and Emotional Well-being
Explore this collection of resources to learn how to support children’s social and emotional well-being. This collection also includes resources related to adult mental wellness.
Promoting Staff Well-being
Explore these resource collections to learn about strategies to promote physical and mental health for staff in Head Start programs.
Strategies for Supporting Self-Regulation: Snapshot Series
Explore key concepts about self-regulation development and intervention for infants and toddlers and preschool-aged children. Learn about strategies to promote self-regulation for these age groups.
Examining the Effects of Toxic Stress and Trauma on the Mental Health of Young Children
This webinar from the Office of Head Start discusses trauma and toxic stress and their effects on the mental health of young children.