- Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University - https://developingchild.harvard.edu -

Tackling Toxic Stress

“Tackling Toxic Stress,” a multi-part series of journalistic articles planned and commissioned by the Center, examines how policymakers, researchers, and practitioners in the field are re-thinking services for children and families based on the science of early childhood development and an understanding of the consequences of adverse early experiences and toxic stress [1].

The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child [2] created the categories of positive, tolerable, and toxic stress to help describe the body’s stress response and its varied effects on health, learning, and behavior.

Stories in the series describe how broader understanding of toxic stress has affected the programs and strategies of the American Academy of Pediatrics [3], the federal government, academic researchers, community agencies, and others.