Elizabeth Coleman

Title : Implementing a trauma-informed care approach with children in primary care

Abstract:

Adverse childhood experiences affect children’s mental health and well-being, extending into adulthood and increasing the risk of chronic diseases. The pandemic has increased the risk of adverse experiences for children. Trauma-informed care, the framework used to address adverse childhood experiences, decreases the harmful effects of these experiences and is successful in settings such as mental health. Although the benefits of addressing adverse childhood experiences earlier in life with trauma-informed care are evident, it is underutilized in the primary care setting. The pandemic has amplified the need to address children’s mental health and well-being in the primary care setting, where many children and families receive their health care. ?Providers report gaps in knowledge, training, comfort level, and unknown referral resources for the lack of trauma-informed care implementation. A pilot study results led to development of a best practice approach to address these gaps. This presentation will discuss the results and provide a step-by-step approach to address the gaps to successfully implement trauma-informed care in the primary care setting. Addressing adverse childhood experiences through trauma-informed care in primary care will impact more children and families to decrease the harmful effects on mental health and well-being to improve health outcomes.?

Audience Take Away Notes:

• Discuss adverse childhood experiences long-term effects
• Discuss trauma-informed care and why it is needed in primary care
• Identify the gaps to implementing trauma-informed care
• Present best practices for implementing trauma-informed care in primary care

Biography:

Dr. Elizabeth Coleman became a nurse in 2004. She practiced at a critical access rural hospital as an RN until 2012 when she graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with her MSN as a Family Nurse Practitioner. Since then, she has practiced in the primary care settings including community health, Veterans Affairs, and family practice as well as specialty clinics in wound care and has recently started an integrative health clinic. She returned to Minnesota State University, Mankato to receive her DNP in 2021. She enjoyed Minnesota State University, Mankato so much, she became an assistant professor in the school of nursing in 2021. She continues to practice in the integrative health clinic one day a week as well.