Joyful Together®: Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress – 03/2019 Position Paper

Joyful Together®: Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress Position Paper Summary:

Toxic stress occurs as a response to prolonged, adverse experiences without adequate adult support that impairs brain development and functioning. The 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health found that as many as 1 in 7 Ohio children had experienced three or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), higher than the national average.

Childhood adversity can result in toxic stress, causing various negative effects throughout one’s life. Despite this, there is always hope. While children’s brains are vulnerable to negative experiences, they are also greatly influenced by positive experiences, offering chances to develop effective defenses against toxic stress. In this Position Paper, we explore our unique innovation that seeks to enhance resiliency and lower toxic stress in children, parents and caregivers through care, joy, and play!

Read below and visit our Position Papers page to explore the rest of our releases! 

Who Should Read About Preventing Childhood Toxic Stress?

At the Institute, our Position Papers are accessible and free to anyone looking to learn! However, we encourage the following groups to use this paper and the contents immediately to better improve behavioral healthcare for our communities:

• Policymakers and researchers
• Healthcare providers
• Educators
• Childhood trauma and toxic stress advocates
• Parents and caregivers

What’s Inside?

• Background information on childhood toxic stress, trauma, and adverse childhood experiences.
• ACE-related statistics in Ohio.
• The effects of toxic stress.
• Geographical highlights of toxic stress: Ohio & Greater Cleveland.
• About resiliency and it’s ability to prevent and impact childhood toxic stress and aces.
• Care + play in parent/caregiver relationships.
• Care + play in professional settings.
• About Joyful Together.

Feedback & Questions:

The Institute of Family & Community Impact, an initiative of OhioGuidestone, understands all of our work is informed by the communities we serve. Have questions about who we are or what we do? Or have a suggestion for a future Position Paper topic? Visit our FAQ page or contact us today.