About
The Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) was granted the opportunity to participate in an American Academy of Pediatrics project focused on trauma-informed care and relational health needs of children, adolescents, and families.
Goals
This project is working to meeting the following goals:
- Educating and engaging PA Chapter pediatricians, healthcare providers, and partners on the importance of trauma-informed care and relational health needs of children, adolescents, and families.
- Exploring opportunities to foster connections between PA AAP members and community partners and/or parent organizations.
Achievements
To date, this project has completed the following:
- Created a member survey to query knowledge and current implementation of trauma-informed care (October 2023).
- This survey helped our team develop the next steps in educational presentations and resources.
- Hosted a PA AAP Let's Talk Pediatric Community Forum: "Thinking in a Trauma-Informed Way: Why and How" (November 2023).
- Hosted two roundtable discussions *of note, these discussions were not recorded due to family participation and to encourage open dialogue:
- "Trauma-Informed Care: Next Steps Forward Roundtable Discussion- Part 1" (January 2024)
- "Trauma-Informed Care: Next Steps Forward Roundtable Discussion- Part 2" (February 2024)
- Developed a Pediatric Practice Trauma-Informed Care Infographic (March 2024)
- Presented at the PA AAP 2024 Annual Pediatric Conference
- Addressing Challenges in Modern Pediatrics, "Trauma-Informed Pediatric Care" (March 2024).
Go to our calendar to stay up to date on additional event opportunities.
PA AAP Contacts
Two Chapter ambassadors and a subject matter expert were identified and work together to provide leadership and subject matter expertise, engage community members, and support PA Chapter activities related to trauma-informed care.
Norrell K. Atkinson, MD, FAAP- PA AAP Ambassador
Section Chief, Child Protection Program, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Philadelphia, PA
E: Norrell.Atkinson@towerhealth.org
Amy G. Nevin, MD, FAAP- PA AAP Ambassador
Pediatrician-Behavioral Health, Children's Community Care-Pittsburgh Pediatrics
Pittsburgh, PA
E: NevinAG@upmc.edu
Eileen Thompson, RN, BSN- PA AAP Staff
Director, Practice-Based Initiatives, PA AAP
King of Prussia, PA
E: EThompson@paaap.org
Norrell K. Atkinson, MD, FAAP- PA AAP Ambassador
Section Chief, Child Protection Program, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Philadelphia, PA
E: Norrell.Atkinson@towerhealth.org
Amy G. Nevin, MD, FAAP- PA AAP Ambassador
Pediatrician-Behavioral Health, Children's Community Care-Pittsburgh Pediatrics
Pittsburgh, PA
E: NevinAG@upmc.edu
Eileen Thompson, RN, BSN- PA AAP Staff
Director, Practice-Based Initiatives, PA AAP
King of Prussia, PA
E: EThompson@paaap.org
AAP Resources
The AAP encourages pediatricians to take a trauma-informed approach to care with all families, with a goal of fostering safe, stable, nurturing relationships to build resiliency and promote healthy mental development. Here are some new resources to share.
Visit the AAP website for additional resources.
- Video: Power of Relationships in Pediatric Care: Uncovering Trauma & Adversity
- Spanish Infographics: Supporting Children Who Have Experienced Trauma
Visit the AAP website for additional resources.