In partnership with the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, CASCW created Core Story 5: Resilience. This video is a part of the Trauma and Early Childhood Development Discussion Guide for Child Welfare developed in partnership with the Center for Early Education and Development, which will be released in October 2015.

Children are incredibly resilient – the same rapid brain development that occurs in the first few years of life that make young children particularly vulnerable to maltreatment also make those same children particularly receptive to intervention. The concept of resiliency is especially important to keep in mind when working with young children in foster care. This video features experts discussing the process that results in resiliency in young children and the factors that can be put in place to bolster resiliency.

1. What does resiliency mean?
2. What is the most important factor for promoting resiliency in the face of adversity for young children?
3. What are other factors that can promote resiliency when a child does not have a history of positive, responsive “serve and return” interactions with their caregivers?
4. What are other factors that can promote resiliency when a child does not have a history of positive, responsive “serve and return” interactions with their caregivers?