For Health Care Professionals: Pediatric Medical Traumatic Stress (PMTS) and Working with the Child Welfare System

When children involved in the child welfare system need medical care, they are particularly in need of providers knowledgeable in trauma-informed care. Illness- or injury-related post-traumatic stress reactions can impair a child's psychosocial / functional recovery and lead to worse health outcomes. While any ill or injured child may experience pediatric medical traumatic stress (PMTS), children in foster care, who often have a prior trauma history or lack social support, are at greater risk.

Enhance your skills in trauma-informed care and learn tips for working effectively with the child welfare system as a health care professional. Upon completion of this continuing education course, nurses will be able to:

• Identify signs, symptoms and risk factors of PMTS for children in the child welfare system.
• Explain basic strategies and recommendations for providing medical care to children in the child welfare system.
• Describe how best to work with the child welfare system to ensure that children are getting the help and support that they need.