It has long been reported that growing up in a harsh environment is bad for children: Violence, poverty and neglect can have long-lasting consequences on kids’ lives. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics is highlighting early-childhood stress as one of the biggest public health priorities facing society. When the Elk Grove Village–based group makes a policy statement like this, people listen. WBEZ’s Gabriel Spitzer joined Eight Forty-Eight to talk through what this all means.
American Academy of Pediatrics article, "Early Childhood Adversity, Toxic Stress, and the Role of the Pediatrician:Translating Developmental Science Into Lifelong Health."