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Infant and Early Childhood Mental HealthState and Local Policy

Supporting Young Children Through Uncertain Times: Resources for Stress and Trauma

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Young children and their families are profoundly impacted by trauma, which can have lasting implications for their well-being and development.

Babies and toddlers often lack the words to convey how they are feeling, leaving caregivers and professionals to interpret a range of unexpected or atypical behaviors. Understanding and supporting young children in these situations requires knowledge, empathy and access to specialized tools and services. 

This resource center is designed for early childhood development professionals working with families affected by stress or trauma. It offers trauma-informed guidance, tools and connections to help professionals support the unique developmental and emotional needs of young children and their caregivers. 

Latest news and updates

Current events and policy changes can have profound effects on families, often increasing stress and even leading to trauma.

Our federal policy team is deeply involved in shaping decisions that impact the well-being of babies and their families. Stay up-to-date on our latest issues.

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Recent Issues

Because babies and toddlers are entirely dependent on their caregivers, their wellbeing is inextricably tied to those who take care of them. Caring, attentive and supportive adults can help alleviate the traumatizing toll that experiencing a natural disaster can have on the child’s developing brain.

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Medicaid ensures millions of children receive essential care including prenatal care, screenings, sick and well-child visits, dental care and vaccines. Without continued federal support, health care costs for eligible families will shift to states, which will be forced to reduce services or increase costs for families.

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Child trauma is defined as any perceived harm or threat of loss that a child experiences or witnesses directly or learns about.

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Trauma-informed resources for professionals

Explore strategies and resources to help professionals provide compassionate, culturally responsive support to babies, toddlers, and their caregivers impacted by trauma and stress.

From creating safe, nurturing environments to connecting families with mental health and legal resources, there is much we can do to help mitigate the effects of these challenging experiences and foster resilience in children and their families. 

what is trauma-informed care?

Responsive Care

When We Are Scared

This story was written to help children and grown-ups (parents, teachers, and other important adults) understand how stress can affect children and ways to help them.

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Trauma-Informed Care in Early Childhood Education

Implementing trauma training for educators can increase the chances that young traumatized children recover, thrive, and enter kindergarten ready to learn.

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Trauma-Responsiveness in Early Childhood: A Foundational Practice

This webinar explores trauma language and trauma-responsive efforts to identify structures that bolster child-centered approaches. 

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Family Separation

Promoting Resilience with Children Impacted by Parental Incarceration

This ZERO TO THREE Member article discusses how childhood professionals can provide critical supports and services that build on family strengths and foster resilience in children affected by the trauma of parental incarceration.   

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Understanding Immigration Trauma and Home Visiting Among Immigrant and Refugee Families

This ZERO TO THREE Member article examines the outcomes of implementing a trauma-informed home visiting program in a refugee/immigrant-serving mental health program in Chicago, Illinois. 

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Traumatic Family Separation: Tips for Caregivers

This tip sheet from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides tips for current caregivers and others to help address the needs of immigrant and refugee children who have experienced traumatic separaton.

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Sudden Traumatic Events

Talking Trauma with Young Children

In this webinar, early childhood experts have a candid conversation about how adults, whether caregivers, early education professionals, or advocates, can navigate tough conversations with young children. 

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Compassionate Response

This free training is for agencies partnering with first responders and offers strategies on scene to mitigate traumatic impacts on young children as well as tips to support their own mental health and well-being. 

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Coping with Trauma and Stress in the Face of Wildfires and Natural Disasters

Guidance and tips for early childhood professionals working with babies and toddlers impacted by natural disasters.

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ACEs, Toxic Stress & Resilience – Caregiver Handouts

These tip sheets, co-created by ZERO TO THREE and The Center for Youth Wellness, provide practical guidance for current caregivers and others to help prevent and buffer the effects of trauma on babies and toddlers.

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Lana Shklyar Nenide
“Providing services and supports to babies and toddlers should be noncontroversial and apolitical. Any disruption or interruption of funding causes significant and unnecessary stress on parents and professionals. We owe it to our children to ensure quality and continuity of care.”
Lana Shklyar Nenide, MS, IMH-E ®, Executive Director, Wisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health

IECMH Directory

This list of IECMH contacts in each state can field inquiries, provide guidance, and connect you to local resources and clinicians specializing in trauma-informed care for infants and toddlers.

This project promotes efforts to achieve positive outcomes for infants and young children by highlighting research-informed infant-early childhood mental health (IECMH) state policies and scaled initiatives. This directory profiles exemplary IECMH strategies used in state policies and scaled initiatives.

State

Organization

AlabamaAlabama Association Infant Early Childhood Mental Health
AlaskaAlaska Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
ArizonaInfant Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona
ArkansasArkansas Association for Infant Mental Health
California

California Association for Infant Mental Health

The IECMHC Network

ColoradoColorado Association for Infant Mental Health
ConnecticutConnecticut Association for Infant Mental Health
DelawareDepartment of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families
District of ColumbiaCenter of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
FloridaFlorida Association for Infant Mental Health
GeorgiaGeorgia Association for Infant Mental Health
HawaiiHawaii Association for Infant Mental Health
IdahoIdaho Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (also known as Aim Early Idaho)
IllinoisIllinois Association for Infant Mental Health
IndianaInfancy Onward (formerly Indiana Association for Infant and Toddler Mental Health)
IowaIowa Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
KansasKansas Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
KentuckyKAIMH
LouisianaHarris Center for Infant Mental Health
MaineMaine Association for Infant Mental Health, Inc.
MarylandInfant Mental Health Association of Maryland/DC
MassachusettsMassachusetts Association for Infant Mental Health
MichiganMichigan Association for Infant Mental Health 
MinnesotaMinnesota Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health
MississippiMississippi Families for Kids
MissouriMissouri Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
MontanaMountain Pacific
NebraskaNebraska Association for Infant Mental Health
NevadaNevada Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
New HampshireNew Hampshire Association for Infant Mental Health
New JerseyNew Jersey Association for Infant Mental Health
New MexicoNew Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health
New YorkNew York State Association for Infant Mental Health
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Infant Mental Health Association
North DakotaND Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health
OhioOhio Association for Infant Mental Health
OklahomaOklahoma Association for Infant Mental Health
OregonOregon Infant Mental Health Association
PennsylvaniaPennsylvania Association for Infant Mental Health
Rhode IslandRhode Island Association for Infant Mental Health
South CarolinaSouth Carolina Association for Infant Mental Health
South DakotaSouth Dakota Family Engagement Center
TennesseeAssociation of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee
TexasFirst3Years Texas (formerly Texas Association for Infant Mental Health)
UtahUtah Association for Infant Mental Health
VermontVermont Department of Mental Health
VirginiaVirginia Association for Infant Mental Health
WashingtonCenter for Early Relational Health (formerly Washington Association for Infant Mental Health)
West VirginiaWest Virginia Infant/Toddler Mental Health Association
WisconsinWisconsin Alliance for Infant Mental Health
WyomingWyoming Department of Health

Your Voice Matters: Share Your Story

Families face stress and trauma from economic shifts, policy changes and crises like natural disasters. Access to mental health support, child care, and family services can make all the difference—but too many still struggle to get help.

Are you a parent or early childhood professional? How have essential services supported you or the families you work with? What still needs to change?

Your voice can help shape policies that ensure every child gets the strong start they deserve.

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Upcoming Events and Trainings

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Rooted in trauma-informed practices, ZERO TO THREE’s virtual and in-person trainings offer the latest from our experts in early childhood development. 

Virtual
February 18, 2025

DC:0—5™: Clinical Training

Tailored for those working with infants and young children, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation.
Details
dad holding baby
Virtual
March 5, 2025

The Growing Brain Basics Webinar Series

Explore how the brain grows and develops from conception to 5 years old and how you can support healthy brain development during these years when the brain is the most plastic, or receptive to change.
Details
Man with tattoos holding his toddler
Virtual
March 18, 2025

Infant Mental Health Training: What You Need to Know

The DC:0-5 Overview Training helps administrators and allied professionals gain a foundation for understanding this diagnostic system.
Details
Virtual
March 19, 2025

Unlocking Early Brain Development: Insights and Resources with Dr. Ross Thompson

Explore brain development basics and the Baby Brain Map to discover how early experiences shape a child’s growing brain, providing valuable insights into supporting healthy development from birth.
Details
Virtual
April 22, 2025

DC:0—5™: Clinical Training

Tailored for those working with infants and young children, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation.
Details
Virtual
May 7, 2025

The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old Virtual Training of Trainers

Our newly designed virtual Training of Trainers combines live online events and self-study to support your journey towards becoming a ZERO TO THREE certified trainer of The Growing Brain curriculum.
Details
Virtual
June 17, 2025

DC:0—5™: Clinical Training

Tailored for those working with infants and young children, focusing on assessment, diagnosis, and case formulation.
Details
Man with tattoos holding his toddler
Virtual
July 15, 2025

Infant Mental Health Training: What You Need to Know

The DC:0-5 Overview Training helps administrators and allied professionals gain a foundation for understanding this diagnostic system.
Details
dad holding baby
Virtual
August 5, 2025

The Growing Brain Basics Webinar Series

Explore how the brain grows and develops from conception to 5 years old and how you can support healthy brain development during these years when the brain is the most plastic, or receptive to change.
Details
Virtual
September 10, 2025

The Growing Brain: From Birth to 5 Years Old Virtual Training of Trainers

Our newly designed virtual Training of Trainers combines live online events and self-study to support your journey towards becoming a ZERO TO THREE certified trainer of The Growing Brain curriculum.
Details
Man with tattoos holding his toddler
Virtual
September 16, 2025

Infant Mental Health Training: What You Need to Know

The DC:0-5 Overview Training helps administrators and allied professionals gain a foundation for understanding this diagnostic system.
Details
Baltimore, Maryland
October 8, 2025

LEARN Conference 2025

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What do mental health issues in young children look like?

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Buzzwords Explained: Trauma-Informed Care

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Buzzwords Explained: Compassion Fatigue

Working hard daily to meet the unique needs of individual children and their families, early childhood professionals are prime candidates for compassion fatigue.
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What does trauma do to a baby’s brain?

Trauma can greatly impact the developing and vulnerable minds of young children aged 0-3. However, the impact of trauma can vary depending on some key factors.
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