Pediatricians
Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing (CRW)
To protect kids, promote health and prevent lifelong complications, it’s critical to understand the role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Health officials have identified 10 categories of ACEs, which are listed below. They range from abuse and neglect to unstable relationships and environments. However, ACEs can include almost any highly stressful event – a tragic accident, a natural disaster or other traumatic experiences.
Repeated or prolonged periods of elevated stress can negatively affect physical health and a child’s ability to learn, develop and function well – especially when kids don’t have the support of a caring, nurturing adult. Complications can include depression, anxiety, addictive behaviors, aggression or even suicide.
Practicing Trauma-Informed Care
Phoenix Children’s Center for Resiliency and Wellbeing (CRW) encourages trauma-informed care (TIC) – understanding how past trauma influences current mental and physical health, as well as behavior.
Throughout life, the brain makes new nerve connections based on experiences – a process called neuroplasticity. This process is the most active from birth to 5 years of age and again during puberty. During these sensitive and critical stages of rapid growth, both positive and negative experiences affect a child’s brain development, structure and pathways. Traumatic, extreme or persistent, stressful experiences can interfere with healthy brain development.
Our CRW specialists offer ACE-related resources for providers and services based on the evidence-based care model from experts in childhood trauma. Our approach protects, supports and heals the whole person.
ACEs and ACE-Related Complications
Our multiphase approach helps to prevent or mitigate toxic stress and ACE-related complications, such as:
- Anxiety, depression and mood disorders
- Eating disorders
- Overeating
- Smoking
- Substance abuse or addiction
- Suicide risk
- Academic problems and/or underperformance
Types of ACEs
Public health officials originally identified the following 10 primary ACEs that can change the health, wellbeing and lives of children and teens:
- Sexual abuse
- Verbal abuse
- Physical neglect
- Emotional neglect
- Depressed or mentally ill family member
- Family member addicted to alcohol or drugs
- Imprisoned family member
- Witnessing a mother being abused
- Losing a parent to separation, divorce or death
The CDC and other experts now recognize many others, such as poverty, homelessness, bullying and racism. Any type of trauma – such as natural disasters or community violence – can cause ACE-related complications.
Our Integrated and Integrative Approach
CRW specialists at Phoenix Children’s follow an “Integrated and Integrative” care model. We identify ACE-related risks, but focus on the inner strengths of the patient and family or caregiver. We build upon and develop greater levels of resilience.
Experts define resilience as the ability to withstand adversity and adapt in healthy ways. We use both the well-known medical and mental health model (Integrated) and a preventative care model (Integrative).
- Integrated medical care – Works across specialties to address, treat and improve a child’s physical and mental health
- Integrative medical care – Provides prevention-focused “well care,” which combines conventional and complementary healthcare practices to evaluate and address the mind, body and spirit
Guided by a specialized pediatrician, our CRW team combines the expertise of a resiliency counselor for short-term counseling and case management, a wellness nurse and a pediatric psychiatrist. Our model provides highly individualized education, care and treatment. Our goal is to mitigate signs and symptoms, treat illness and prevent future ACEs.
Integrated and Integrative Phases
You can learn more about CRW’s evidence-based approach in our downloadable Integrated and Integrative white paper. This care model includes:
- Foundation phase – Evaluating strengths and opportunities
- Wellbeing phase – Strategies to support, protect and heal
- Connecting phase – Building resilience and promoting healing through communication
- Skill-building phase – Strengthening empowering skills while building resiliency, coping abilities and support systems
- Contributing phase – Giving back to the community, which helps build confidence, connection and competency
Taking Inventory
Our CRW team begins by working to understand the dynamics of each child or teen within their respective family system. We do this through a comprehensive wellness evaluation to capture the unique mental, physical, environmental and social aspects of each family. We look at family strengths, needs and positive, protective factors, including:
- Appropriate developmental expectations for the child
- Caregiver knowledge and understanding of parenting
- Close relationship with nurturing and predictable caregivers
- Family and community support systems
- Parental resilience
- Practical support
- Sense of purpose and meaning
Techniques and Tools
Our CRW team includes a wellness nurse who can help children or teens learn integrative techniques and goal-setting. Kids build strength, confidence and resilience through practices such as:
- Finding calm through breathing techniques
- Getting good, balanced nutrition
- Learning about sleep and sleep hygiene (habits, environment and routines)
- Learning the value and importance of giving back
- Practicing self-compassion and self-efficacy (effectiveness)
- Staying physically active
- Understanding the emotion-body connection
Resiliency Counseling and Support
Our resiliency counselors use the Integrated and Integrative Care Model to understand the patient as a whole person. They offer short-term support while helping families set up long-term counseling if needed. They support kids and families by:
- Addressing challenges and teaching ways to deal with and recover from difficult situations
- Fostering community and overcoming barriers by offering connections to community partners
- Helping kids build safe, stable and nurturing relationships that are reliable and consistent
- Strengthening regulation and co-regulation – the ability to manage thoughts, emotions and behaviors in acceptable ways toward positive personal and shared goals
- Working on parenting support while building parents’ strengths and skills
- CRW resiliency counselors also support continuity of care, where needed, through referrals for housing, domestic violence shelters, food and nutrition, and support from service-oriented community organizations.
Our Team
Phoenix Children’s CRW team includes:
- Pediatrician (oversees program)
- Pediatric Psychiatrist
- Resiliency Counselor
- Wellness Nurse
- Medical Assistant
- CRW Operations Manager
Educational Resources
You can review or download the CRW’s educational materials to learn more.
- CRW program overview and goals – Read an overview of the CRW program, including what we do, how we work and why it matters. Integrated and Integrative care model diagram – See an at-a-glance illustration of this approach to care.
- Integrated and Integrative white paper – Learn more about our model and approach to protecting, supporting and healing the whole person.
- Patient education: Healthy eating habits flyer (English / Spanish) – Help educate patients and families about the importance of nutrition for physical, emotional and mental health.
- Patient education: Sleep habits flyer (English / Spanish) – Inform patients and families about why sleep is important and how to establish healthy sleep habits.
- CRW display posters (smaller sizes) – Display these standard-sized color posters to help patients and families understand the importance of the CRW questions and approach.
- CRW display posters (larger sizes) – Display these legal-sized color posters to help patients and families understand the importance of the CRW questions and approach.
Contact Us
If you have questions or would like additional information, please reach out to us at centerforresiliencyandwellbeing@phoenixchildrens.com.