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Families and Caregivers

Parents and caregivers play an essential role in helping children and teenagers recover from traumatic events. These resources are for parents, adoptive parents, resource/foster parents, grandparents, caregivers, and all others who care for children and teens. The more caregivers learn about how traumatic events affect their children (whether toddler, school-age, teen, youth, or adult), the more they understand the reasons for their children’s behaviors and emotions, and the better prepared they are to help them cope. When children know that caring adults are working to keep them safe and support them in understanding their reactions to trauma, most can recover and go on to live healthy and productive lives.

NCTSN Resource

Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event

Type: Fact Sheet

Describes how young children, school-age children, and adolescents react to traumatic events and offers suggestions on how parents and caregivers can help and support them.

NCTSN Resource

Caring for Kids: What Parents Need to Know about Sexual Abuse

Type: Fact Sheet

Provides parents and caregivers with tools to help them support children who have been victims of sexual abuse, information on the importance of talking to children and youth about body safety, and guidance on how to respond when children disclose sexual abuse.

NCTSN Resource

What Is Child Traumatic Stress?

Type: Fact Sheet

Defines child traumatic stress. This fact sheet gives an overview of trauma, describes traumatic stress symptoms, and ways children may be impacted.

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How to Talk to My Child About Being Safe Online

Type: Video

Includes discussions from providers who work with families on vulnerabilities to exploitation and staying safe online as well as personal experiences faced by those who struggle to talk to their children about being safe.

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How to Address Worries About My Child's Safety at School

Type: Video

Includes discussion from providers who work with families, communities, and schools before, during, and after violent events as well as parents and school staff, to explore personal experiences faced by those who have struggled to deal with and address their child’s safety at school.

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How to Have a Happy Holiday

Type: Video

Hear from providers who are working with bereaved parents and caregivers as well as a parent advocate to explore personal experiences faced by parents whose families are struggling with grief and loss this holiday season and talk with providers who help youth and families cope with those feelings

Partner-In Resource

I Don't Know How To: Parent Series

Type: Video

Explores difficult topics to help equip parents with the tools to navigate and provide support for various mental health conditions.

Partner-In Resource

My Child is Suicidal and I Don't Know How to Help

Type: Video

Explores personal experiences faced by parents who learn that their child is struggling with suicidal thoughts, teachers who support youth struggling with suicidal thoughts in school, and providers who help youth and families negotiate recovery from suicidal ideation.

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