RESEARCH

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SonShine Creates and Sustains Safe, Stable, Nurturing Relationships and Environments

According to the CDC: 

• "Adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years) 
• Aspects of the child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding but can be prevented.
• Creating and sustaining safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and families can prevent ACEs and help all children reach their full potential" 

For more information on ACEs go to:

https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/prevention.html

• All staff have training in trauma sensitive environments and are knowledgable about the devastating affects of trauma and ACE's
• All staff responds appropriatley and intentionally to the individual needs of all children  

Why is this important?

"According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, chronic exposure to traumatic events, especially during a child’s early years, can:

• Adversely affect attention, memory, and cognition
• Reduce a child’s ability to focus, organize, and process information
• Interfere with effective problem solving and planning
• Result in overwhelming feelings of frustration and anxiety."

(TASB, "This Is How Childhood Trauma Affects Students and What You Can Do"

"https://www.tasb.org/members/enhance-district/how-childhood-trauma-affects-students/

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: "Trauma Facts for Educators"  

students/https://www.nctsn.org/products/complex-trauma-facts-for-educators%C2%A0

HOWEVER...

"Childrens brains have the ability to change and reorganize in response to new experiences; therefore, having healthy and consistent interactions with (informed) early childhood educators can greatly influence their brain development and their ability to engage successfully in the early childhood setting."  (Trauma Sensitive Classrooms Cole et al. 2005,  pg 77-78.) 

For more information see "Creating Sensitive Classrooms" at https://www.naeyc.org/system/files/YC0515_Trauma-Sensitive_Classrooms_Statman-Weil.pdf

"Early experiences affect the development of brain architecture, which provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. That's why SonShine's services are so critical!  Just as a weak foundation compromises the quality and strength of a house, adverse experiences early in life can impair brain architecture, with negative effects lasting into adulthood."  (Center on the Developing Child Harvard University 

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/)

"Toxic stress weakens the architecture of the developing brain, which can lead to lifelong problems in learning, behavior, and physical and mental health.  Experiencing stress is an important part of healthy development.  Activation of the stress response produces a wide range of physiological reactions that prepare the body to deal with threat.  However, when these responses remain activated at high levels for significant periods of time, without supportive relationships to help calm them, toxic stress results.  This can impair the development of neural connections, especially in the areas of the brain dedicated to higher-order skills."  (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University)

https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/

For more information on Toxic Stress go to:

https://www.nctsn.org/products/complex-trauma-facts-for-educators%C2%A0