Toxic Stress: Protecting the Foundation - a podcast by Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

What is toxic stress? What effects can it have on a child's body and development, and how can those effects be prevented? What does it mean to build resilience? This episode of The Brain Architects explores what"toxic stress"means, and what we can do about it.


ContentsPodcast
PanelistsAdditional Resources
TranscriptHost Sally Pfitzer is once again joined by Center Director Dr. Jack Shonkoff as they dive into the different types of stress, including what makes certain stress"toxic,"while other stress can be tolerable or even positive for children. They discuss the effects that toxic stress can have on developing brains, as well as what it means to be resilient to sources of stress, and how parents and caregivers can help encourage that resilience in children. Dr. Shonkoff also emphasizes the point that, even for those who may have experienced toxic stress,"it's never too late to make things better."Then, listen to a panel discussion featuring Pediatrician Dr. Kathleen Conroy, Community Mental Health Worker Cerella Craig, Professor and Researcher Dr. Megan Gunnar, and Training Director for Rise Magazine Jeanette Vega, as they discuss the various ways in which they encounter toxic stress and its effects in their work. The panelists speak openly about how toxic stress can affect families and children—including ways in which the systems set up to help can be the cause of further stress—and how to talk about toxic stress in a way that doesn't make things feel hopeless to those who have experienced it. They also dig into strategies they employ in their various fields to help children and families deal with stress, and move what might be toxic stress back to tolerable levels. Download the episode and subscribe to the podcast today.


PanelistsDr. Kathleen Conroy, Associate Clinical Director, Boston Children’s Primary Care, and Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School

Cerella Craig, Community Mental Health Worker, New Haven, CTMegan Gunnar, Professor and Director of the Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota

Jeanette Vega, Training Director, Rise magazineAdditional Resources
Resources from the Center on the Developing ChildA Guide to Toxic Stress
Stress and Resilience: How Toxic Stress Affects Us, and What We Can Do About ItInfographic: What We Can Do About Toxic Stress
Infographic: ACEs and Toxic Stress: Frequently Asked QuestionsKey Concepts: Resilience
Resources Regarding the Separation and Detention of Migrant Children and FamiliesThree Principles to Improve Outcomes for Children and Families
Science to Policy and Practice: Applying the Science of Child Development in Child Welfare SystemsInBrief: Applying the Science of Child Development in Child Welfare Systems
Working Paper: Excessive Stress Disrupts the Architecture of the Developing BrainWorking Paper: The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain

Resources from Our PanelistsJeanette Vega

RISE TIPS: Visits With Children in Foster CareRISE TIPS: Service Planning
Risemagazine.org features lots of stories by parents involved in the child welfare system for other parents.Transcript
Sally: Welcome to The Brain Architects, a new podcast from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. I'm your host, Sally Pfitzer. Our center believes that advances in science can provide a powerful source of new ideas that can improve outcomes for children and families. We want to help you apply the science of early childhood development to your everyday interactions with children, and take what you're hearing from our experts and panels and apply it to your everyday work. In today’s episode, we’re going to explore this concept called toxic stress, which is a buzzword you may have heard and potentially used incorrectly. So we’re going to discuss what toxic stress is and what it can do to ...

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