For adults, early posttrauma interventions are those implemented in a timely and sensitive manner following traumas. For children exposed to traumatic events or traumatic parenting, early intervention may refer to early life intervention (i.e., for infants and toddlers or into early school years) or to interventions that are provided soon after traumatic exposure. The National Research Council and the National Institutes of Medicine have concluded that developmentally appropriate, early youth interventions offer the greatest promise for preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

After a traumatic event, the timing, sequencing, and nature of interventions are important to traumatized individuals’ recovery. In fact, prior to events, preparation is essential in order to ensure successful immediate and ongoing interventions. Given that there are multiple determinants of health and mental ...