Parenting can be a joyful, yet daunting, experience. Caregivers want what is best for their children, but often face stress and challenges in meeting their families' needs. Providing support and resources for parents to heal from past trauma and strengthen their well-being promotes children’s healthy development – and a thriving Iowa. ​
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Opportunities to Respond

Family support providers can help families heal from ACEs and prevent future trauma by: 
  • Sharing information in ways that build hope
  • Showing empathy
  • Highlighting factors that have helped build resiliency
  • Making referrals to resources as necessary
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Here are handouts for understanding child stress and how caregivers can respond: 
Kids and Stress
File Size: 1101 kb
File Type: pdf
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Kids and Feelings
File Size: 766 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Developed by Dr. Amy Shriver
If you or someone you know have experienced trauma and are seeking support, please connect with 211 for local services and resources in your area. 

Lemonade for Life

This training experience is designed to help providers and community members support families who have experienced ACEs with building hope and resilience. You’ll have opportunities to discuss ACEs and resilience science in relation to your own experiences and try out tools and resources for introducing these topics with families using a hope-infused mindset. The training conveys that individuals cannot rewrite the beginning of their story, but they can change how it ends. 

Additional ​Resources

Find more information and resources you can apply to your work with families: