Children with toxic stress can be healed

After reading the poignant series “The Crisis Within” by Nancy Cambria of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in The Tribune, I continue to be thankful knowing there are trained professionals within our own community who can help children heal after experiencing trauma, stress and loss. Additionally, I am encouraged about the scientific proof where “the brain scans show that positive relationships with parents, family and others can protect and heal” these children.

That healing does not come easily and requires learning, dedication, hard work and empathy by caregivers, therapists, educators, community organizations and especially the child. One of our local agencies that can contribute to the healing process is Kinship Center Children’s Clinic (a member of Seneca Family of Agencies). Kinship Center assists those families touched by adoption, foster care and kin care — where stress, trauma and/or loss has impacted the child or children. The work done positively affects the entire family system as well as the child’s larger world: school, health and community organizations. For more information, contact Kinship Center at 434-2449.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 8:56 PM with the headline "Children with toxic stress can be healed."