Authors

  1. Murphy, Anne PhD
  2. Steele, Howard PhD
  3. Bate, Jordan MA
  4. Nikitiades, Adella MA
  5. Allman, Brooke LMSW
  6. Bonuck, Karen PhD
  7. Meissner, Paul MSPH
  8. Steele, Miriam PhD

Abstract

This article outlines the main premises of an innovative trauma-informed intervention, group attachment-based intervention, specifically developed to target vulnerable families with infants and toddlers, living in one of the poorest urban counties in the nation. It also reports on the trauma-relevant characteristics of 60 families entering a clinical trial to study the effectiveness of Group Attachment-Based Intervention. Initial survey results revealed high levels of neglect, abuse, and household dysfunction in mothers' histories (77% reported >=4 adverse childhood experiences, with more than 90% reporting 2 or more current toxic stressors, including poverty, obesity, domestic and community violence, and homelessness).