Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Abuse and neglect can disrupt attachment and stem the development of important relational capacities. Nearly 35 percent of children and youth who are reported for maltreatment demonstrate significant deficits in social skills.

With help from families, friends, providers, and other Heroes of Hope, children and youth can be resilient when dealing with trauma. Visit www.samhsa.gov/children to learn more.

Children and youth who experience trauma stemming from abuse and neglect can also face disrupted attachment and delayed development of capacities required for building relationships. Almost 35 percent of children and youth who are reported for abuse display notable deficits in social skills.¹

Research has shown that caregivers can buffer the impact of trauma and promote better outcomes for children even under stressful times when the following Strengthening Families Protective Factors are present:

• Parental resilience
• Social connections
• Knowledge of parenting and child development
• Concrete support in times of need
• Social and emotional competence of children²

Use these sample messages to share this childhood trauma and resilience data point with your connections on Twitter and Facebook and via email.

Twitter: 35% of children & youth who are reported for abuse exhibit deficits in social skills http://1.usa.gov/JWjb5E via @samhsagov #HeroesofHope

Facebook: Nearly 35% of children and youth who are reported for abuse and neglect demonstrate significant deficits in social skills. Learn more about the behavioral health impact of traumatic events on children and youth, and pass it on to observe National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day: http://1.usa.gov/JWjb5E

References:

1. Casanueva, C., Ringeisen, H., Wilson, E., Smith, K., & Dolan, M. (2011). NSCAW II Baseline Report: Child Well-Being. OPRE Report #2011-27b, Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/nscaw/reports/nscaw2_child/nscaw2_child.pdf (PDF - 864 KB)
2. Horton, C. (2003). Protective factors literature review. Early care and education programs and the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Center for the Study of Social Policy.