Child Maltreatment and Brain Development: A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals (1 credit hour)

Program Summary:  This course highlights current research on the impact of child maltreatment on a child’s developing brain.  The course offers an overview of brain development and explores concepts of ‘serve and return’, attachment, sensitive periods, plasticity, and stress responses.  The course describes the effects of maltreatment on behavioral, social, and emotional functioning and the impact of resilience.  Implications for practice are discussed.

This course is recommended for social workers and counselors and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  

“Book  Open the Course Reading Here.

Reading #1:  Child Maltreatment and Brain Development:  A Primer for Child Welfare Professionals  Publisher:  Children’s Bureau Child Welfare Information Gateway

Reading #2:  Brain Basics: Know Your Brain  Publisher:  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Course Objectives:  To enhance professional practice, values, skills and knowledge by examining child maltreatment and brain development.

Learning Objectives:  Describe how the brain develops. Identify the effects of maltreatment on brain development.  Describe implications for practice.

Review our pre-reading study guide.

Course Available Until: March 31, 2028.

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1: A situation in which a baby's babbles bring reliable, appropriate reactions from their caregiver is sometimes referred to as
 
 
 
 
2: Higher-level functions of the brain, such as emotion regulation, language, and abstract thought grow rapidly through the first
 
 
 
 
3: Sensitive periods are the windows of time in the developmental process when certain parts of the brain may be ___________ susceptible to particular experiences.
 
 
4: The first day of school could trigger a
 
 
 
5: Lower levels of cortisol can cause
 
 
6: Using Figure 2 on page 8, which of the following is an example of mental flexibility?
 
 
 
 
7: The ability to adapt to adversity best describes
 
 
 
 
8: Which is more effective?
 
 
9: Removing a child from a harmful environment will automatically improve brain development and reduce the effects of child maltreatment.
 
 
10: Research has consistently shown that having at least ____________ stable and responsive supportive adult in a child's life is a key factor for resiliency.
 
 
 
 

In order to purchase or take this course, you will need to log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register for a free account.

After you log in, a link will appear here that will allow you to purchase this course.

G.M. Rydberg-Cox, MSW, LSCSW is the Continuing Education Director at Free State Social Work and responsible for the development of this course.  She received her Masters of Social Work in 1996 from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago and she has over 20 years of experience.  She has lived and worked as a social worker in Chicago, Boston, and Kansas City.  She has practiced for many years in the area of hospital/medical social work.  The reading materials for this course were developed by another organization.

Course Available Until: March 31, 2028.
Filed under: Children, Families