Protecting children from the dangers of urban poverty

Exposure to the social ecology of poor urban neighborhoods significantly increases the incidence of traumatic stress disorders, placing children growing up in such neighborhoods at disproportionate risk. Although the risk factors for and effects of childhood complex traumatic stress disorders are well documented, there is little intervention research to guide the delivery of services to this population. This paper builds on current knowledge of childhood trauma and related treatments by introducing an intervention model using constructive family ritual functioning as a mechanism for increasing the protective function of the family. The intervention model postulates that use of family rituals as a coping resource will lead to decreased symptoms of chronic traumatic stress and rates of exposure to additional trauma.