Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Trauma-Informed Care for Children Exposed to Community Violence

Abstract

Racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes and access have been consistently documented for a wide variety of physical and behavioral health conditions. Health inequities are most pronounced in areas with high levels of racial and ethnic segregation, where children and adolescents are also more likely to face economic inequality, which places them at high risk for exposure to neighborhood violence and traumatic loss. Community violence exposure (CVE) has been increasingly recognized as a prominent contributor to negative physical and mental health outcomes. CVE has been linked to children's risk for negative psychological outcomes, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, externalizing behavior, and internalizing symptoms, as well as obesity, asthma, and health-risk behaviors. Providers of pediatric care have opportunities to address CVE and related health disparities by developing trauma-informed systems that routinely screen for CVE, provide basic support for affected families, and link those in need to trauma-focused intervention. [Pediatr Ann. 2017;46(10):e377-e381.].

How do underserved adolescents want to learn about health? An exploration of health concerns, preferences, and resources utilized

“…Notably, trauma/violence is absent or underrepresented in national health curriculums. 13 Our study lends credence to the notion of an educational gap in trauma/violence for vulnerable adolescents.…”

“…Participants reported a significantly lower level of previous knowledge (p<0.01), despite a similar level of personal concern. When examined in concert with previous studies that demonstrate higher levels of exposure and adverse events involving trauma/violence in children from low-income and racial/ethnic minority communities, 10 , 13 this finding is striking. Notably, trauma/violence is absent or underrepresented in national health curriculums.…”

Trauma-Informed Interventions for At-Risk and Justice-Involved Youth: A Meta-Analysis

“…Trauma-informed approaches may be helpful in reducing justice-system contact given the encouraging evidence-base of trauma treatment reducing problem behaviors. This may be a meaningful step in creating treatment parity between non-White youth and White youth in light of racial/ethnic differences in trauma exposure, symptoms, and treatment (López et al, 2017; Stolbach & Anam, 2017; Wamser-Nanney et al, 2021). Additional research is needed to discern the effects of trauma treatment and access to treatment among non-White youth compared with their White counterparts.…”

“What Does it Mean to be Trauma-Informed?”: A Mixed-Methods Study of a Trauma-Informed Community Initiative

“…These events and circumstances include poverty, violence, discrimination, homelessness, natural disasters, and, as underscored by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), pandemics (Bridgland et al, 2021;Krystal et al, 2021;SAMHSA, 2014). Trauma disproportionately burdens populations of color, indigenous communities, and members of sexual minority groups, thus necessitating a traumainformed social justice response (SAMHSA 2014;Scheer and Poteat, 2018;Stolbach & Anam, 2017).…”