Resources to Support Pediatric Prevention and Response to Violence

Screening & Assessment

• Quick Parenting Assessment (QPA)
  A brief, validated screening tool that helps pediatric providers identify parenting strengths and determine whether families may benefit from additional support. Designed for children ages 1 to 10 years, the QPA promotes healthy discipline practices, supports social-emotional development, and can be integrated into routine pediatric care.
• Missed opportunities to support parents' use of healthy discipline
  This 2025 study found that many parents report potentially unhealthy discipline practices, yet fewer than one in five parents who may benefit from support receive parenting education or referrals, highlighting a significant opportunity to integrate tools such as the QPA into pediatric care to strengthen child abuse prevention efforts.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions

• Play Nicely: The Healthy Discipline Program
  An evidence-based parenting education program developed by Vanderbilt University to help caregivers use healthy, effective discipline strategies and reduce reliance on harsh or punitive discipline practices. Designed for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers, the program offers practical guidance for managing challenging behaviors while promoting children's healthy social-emotional development and preventing child maltreatment.
• Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK)
  An evidence-based pediatric primary care approach that helps identify and address family stressors associated with child maltreatment. Through screening, brief interventions, and connections to community resources, the SEEK Model supports families, strengthens protective factors, and helps prevent child abuse and neglect.
• Pediatric primary care to help prevent child maltreatment: the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) Model
  This study provides promising evidence that the SEEK model of enhanced pediatric primary care can reduce the rates of child abuse and neglect in a low-income urban population.
• Use of Videotaped Interactions During Pediatric Well-Child Care
  This approach uses brief recordings of parent-child interactions during pediatric well-child visits to help healthcare providers observe strengths, support positive parenting practices, and promote healthy child development. By reviewing everyday interactions, providers can offer individualized guidance that strengthens parent-child relationships and supports early social-emotional development.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports

• Nurse-Family Partnership
  An evidence-based home visiting program that connects first-time parents with specially trained nurses for ongoing support from pregnancy through early childhood. The program helps families improve child health and development, strengthen parenting skills, and build a foundation for long-term family wellbeing.
• HealthySteps
  An evidence-based program that integrates a child development specialist into pediatric primary care to support families during the first three years of life. The program strengthens parent-child relationships, promotes healthy development, addresses behavioral and developmental concerns, and connects families with resources and support.
• Healthy Steps for Young Children: Sustained Results at 5.5 Years
  Research on Healthy Steps found long-term positive impacts on parenting and family outcomes, demonstrating the benefits of integrating developmental and family support services into pediatric primary care.
• Triple P–Positive Parenting Program
  An evidence-based system of parenting support that provides families with practical strategies to promote children's healthy development, strengthen parent-child relationships, and prevent behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges. The program offers a range of support options tailored to families' needs.
• The Incredible Years
  An evidence-based parenting program that helps parents strengthen positive parent-child relationships, build children's social and emotional skills, promote positive behavior, and reduce behavior problems through practical, relationship-based strategies. It is designed for families with children from infancy through adolescence and can be used for prevention and early intervention.
• Help Me Grow
  A national early childhood system model designed to connect families with community resources and services that support healthy child development. It focuses on helping children thrive during their first five years by improving access to health care, early learning opportunities, nutrition, developmental screenings, and family support services.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources

• Effective Discipline to Raise Healthy Children
  AAP policy statement that summarizes research on child discipline and recommends positive, developmentally appropriate discipline strategies while advising against physical punishment and harsh verbal discipline.
• A Brief Primary Care Intervention Helps Parents Develop Plans to Discipline
  A research study demonstrating that a brief educational intervention during pediatric visits can help parents adopt more effective, positive discipline strategies and reduce reliance on physical punishment.

Screening & Assessment
No resources listed at this time.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    How to Make a Family Media Plan
Helps families create a personalized media plan to manage screen use and technology in a way that aligns with their family's values and routines. It provides practical guidance on setting screen-free times and locations, choosing high-quality content, using parental controls, protecting privacy, and regularly reviewing media rules as children grow.
o    Connected Kids: Pulling the Plug on TV Violence Brochure
Explains how exposure to television violence can influence children's attitudes and behaviors. It encourages parents to limit screen time, monitor content, discuss violent media with their children, and promote nonviolent problem-solving skills.
o    Play Nicely: The Healthy Discipline Program
An evidence-based parenting education program developed by Vanderbilt University to help caregivers use healthy, effective discipline strategies and reduce reliance on harsh or punitive discipline practices. Designed for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers, the program offers practical guidance for managing challenging behaviors while promoting children's healthy social-emotional development and preventing child maltreatment.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Create a personalized family media
An interactive tool from the American Academy of Pediatrics that helps families create a personalized plan for managing media and technology use. The tool allows families to establish media goals, set expectations for screen use, and develop healthy digital habits that reflect their family's values and priorities.
o    The Digital Wellness Lab
A nonprofit research center affiliated with Boston Children's Hospital that studies how digital media affects children and young adults. Its mission is to understand and promote positive, healthy digital media experiences from birth through young adulthood through research, education, and practical resources for families, educators, health professionals, and policymakers.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Virtual Violence
AAP policy statement reviews research on children's exposure to violence across digital media, including television, video games, computers, and mobile devices. The report summarizes evidence linking exposure to virtual violence with increased aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and provides recommendations for parents, health professionals, policymakers, and the media industry to reduce children's exposure to violent content.
o    Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents
AAP policy statement outlines how today's digital ecosystem, including social media, video games, apps, artificial intelligence, and online platforms, affects children's health and well-being. Using a socioecological framework, it emphasizes that children's digital experiences are influenced by individual factors, caregivers, digital platform design, and broader societal systems. The statement provides recommendations for families, health professionals, industry leaders, and policymakers to support child-centered digital environments.
o    Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents
This companion AAP technical report reviews the research on how digital media, including social media, apps, video games, artificial intelligence, and other technologies, influence child and adolescent development. It examines topics such as caregiver stress, emotional well-being, sleep, physical health, safety, body image, and problematic media use, while highlighting the role of family relationships, digital platform design, and social systems in shaping children's digital experiences.
o    Interpersonal Violence in Schools and Social Media
This AAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health Q&A resource discusses the relationship between social media, school violence, bullying, cyberbullying, and teen dating violence. It reviews current research, examines how online conflicts can sometimes escalate into in-person violence, and highlights evidence-based prevention strategies, digital literacy programs, and school-based interventions that can help reduce interpersonal violence among youth.

Screening & Assessment
o    Screening and Interviewing Strategies for Intimate Partner Violence
This resource from the Center for Relationship Abuse Awareness & Action provides guidance for healthcare professionals on how to safely and effectively discuss intimate partner violence (IPV) with patients. It outlines best practices for creating a supportive environment, asking about relationship safety, responding to disclosures, and connecting individuals with appropriate services and resources. The resource emphasizes trauma-informed, patient-centered communication and the importance of conducting conversations privately and respectfully.
o    Screening for Unhealthy Relationship Behaviors in Adolescent Patients
This letter to the editor in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry highlights the importance of screening adolescents not only for experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and dating abuse, but also for behaviors that may place them at risk of perpetrating unhealthy or abusive relationship behaviors. The authors argue that adolescence is a critical period for promoting healthy relationship skills and preventing future relationship violence.
o    Screening for Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence in Women
This Women’s Preventive Services Initiative (WPSI) resource provides evidence-based guidance for implementing routine screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) and domestic violence among women and adolescents in healthcare settings. The guide supports the recommendation to screen all women aged 13 years and older, including during pregnancy and postpartum, at least annually and when clinically indicated, while providing appropriate intervention, education, and referrals.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    Educate Health Providers on How to Respond to Intimate Partner Violence
This resource from the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence provides training, tools, and guidance to help health care professionals address intimate partner violence (IPV) in clinical settings. It promotes the CUES intervention, an evidence-based, trauma-informed approach that helps providers discuss healthy and unhealthy relationships, educate patients about the health effects of violence, and connect survivors with support and resources.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Dating Matters® Intimate Partner Violence Prevention
A comprehensive teen dating violence prevention model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The program aims to promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence before it starts by providing prevention strategies for youth, educators, families, and communities. It is designed for middle school-aged youth and uses a comprehensive, community-based approach to address risk and protective factors associated with relationship violence.
o    Teen Dating Violence–Intimate Partner Violence Prevention
This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) resource provides an overview of teen dating violence, including what it is, how common it is, and its impact on adolescent health and well-being. The CDC defines teen dating violence as physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence that occurs within a dating relationship, including stalking and other harmful behaviors.
o    Healthy Relationships Toolkit
Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through VetoViolence, is an interactive online training and resource designed to help adults support adolescents in developing healthy relationship skills. The toolkit focuses on strengthening communication, respect, boundaries, conflict resolution, emotional awareness, and other relationship skills that can help prevent dating violence and promote healthy connections among youth.
o    Coaching Boys Into Men (CBIM)
An evidence-based violence prevention program developed by Futures Without Violence that equips high school coaches to engage young male athletes in discussions about healthy relationships, respect, mental health, and the prevention of violence. Through twelve brief, coach-led discussions delivered during a sports season, the program uses the influence of athletics to promote positive behaviors and leadership among youth.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Promoting Healthy Relationships in Adolescents
This American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee Opinion provides guidance for healthcare professionals, parents, and caregivers on promoting healthy relationships among adolescents. The resource emphasizes that adolescence, particularly the middle school years, is a critical time for helping young people develop the skills needed to build respectful, safe, and healthy relationships.
o    Healthy Adolescent Partner Relationships: Pediatric Mental Health Minute Series
This AAP educational resource focuses on promoting healthy partner relationships among adolescents and supporting the emotional and social development needed for healthy connections. The resource emphasizes that healthy relationships are built on respect, trust, communication, boundaries, equality, and mutual support, while helping clinicians recognize and address unhealthy relationship dynamics and dating violence. 
o    Building Support for Policy Change on Healthy Relationship Promotion and Teen Dating Violence Prevention
This advocacy toolkit from Futures Without Violence provides practical, step-by-step guidance for creating and implementing school and district policies that promote healthy relationships and prevent teen dating violence. Developed through the Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships Initiative, the toolkit is designed for educators, school counselors, public health professionals, violence prevention advocates, parents, caregivers, and youth leaders seeking to strengthen school-based prevention efforts.
o    Care of the Adolescent After an Acute Sexual Assault
This AAP clinical report provides guidance for healthcare professionals on the medical, psychological, and supportive care of adolescents following an acute sexual assault. The report emphasizes the importance of a trauma-informed, adolescent-centered approach that prioritizes safety, confidentiality, emotional support, and access to appropriate medical and mental health services.

Screening & Assessment
o    PEARR Tool: Trauma-Informed Approach to Victim Assistance in Healthcare Settings
The PEARR Tool, developed by HEAL Trafficking in collaboration with CommonSpirit Health and the Pacific Survivor Center, is a trauma-informed, patient-centered conversation guide that helps healthcare professionals recognize and respond to human trafficking and other forms of violence. PEARR stands for Provide Privacy, Educate, Ask, Respect, and Respond.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    CUES: Confidentiality, Universal Education + Empowerment, Support
An evidence-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to help healthcare providers address intimate partner violence and domestic/sexual violence in healthcare settings. The resource provides implementation guidance, educational videos, and practical examples to help pediatricians and other clinicians integrate CUES into routine care to improve health and safety outcomes for children and families.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
No resources listed at this time.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Intimate Partner Violence: Role of the Pediatrician
This AAP clinical report highlights the important role pediatricians play in recognizing intimate partner violence (IPV), supporting survivors, and addressing the effects of IPV on children. The report explains that children exposed to IPV are at increased risk for abuse, neglect, and adverse physical, behavioral, psychological, and social outcomes. It provides guidance on identifying IPV in pediatric settings, responding safely and compassionately, and connecting families with appropriate community resources and support services.
o    Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic
This AAP Family Snapshot summarizes findings on intimate partner violence (IPV) among families during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the impact of IPV on both adults and children. The resource examines reported experiences of physical and psychological violence in households with children and emphasizes that witnessing IPV is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) associated with long-term physical, emotional, behavioral, and mental health consequences.
For more information on supporting children and families experiencing IPV, visit the Academy’s Patient Care Page on Intimate Partner Violence

Screening & Assessment
o    Child Trauma Screen (CTS)
Developed by the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) in partnership with Yale University and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, is a brief, standardized, validated screening tool used to identify children who may have experienced trauma and need additional assessment or treatment. The free, 10-item measure assesses trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms in children ages 6–17 and is designed for use by both clinical and non-clinical professionals in settings such as pediatrics, schools, behavioral health, child welfare, and juvenile justice. It can be administered as a self-report or interview and is available in multiple languages.
o    Pediatric Traumatic Stress Screening Tool (PTSST) 
Developed by Intermountain Healthcare, is a screening instrument designed to identify traumatic stress reactions in children and adolescents following exposure to potentially traumatic events. Based on the UCLA Brief Trauma Screen, the tool assesses trauma exposure and symptoms such as nightmares, sleep difficulties, intrusive thoughts, emotional distress, avoidance, concentration problems, social isolation, and thoughts of self-harm to help guide referrals and interventions.
o    UCLA PTSD Reaction Index (RI)
A widely used assessment tool that evaluates a child's trauma history and the full range of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Designed for school-age children and adolescents, the measure is available as a clinician-administered interview and includes child and parent/caregiver versions. It can be used for assessment, treatment planning, and monitoring symptom change over time.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    CUES: Confidentiality, Universal Education + Empowerment, Support
An evidence-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to help healthcare providers address intimate partner violence and domestic/sexual violence in healthcare settings. The resource provides implementation guidance, educational videos, and practical examples to help pediatricians and other clinicians integrate CUES into routine care to improve health and safety outcomes for children and families.
o    Healthy Moms, Happy Babies: A Train-the-Trainers Curriculum on Trauma-Informed Domestic Violence Programming and Practice
Comprehensive training resource designed for home visitors, perinatal case managers, community outreach workers, and program leaders. It provides trauma-informed guidance on addressing domestic violence, reproductive coercion, safety planning, and supportive referrals within home visitation and maternal-child health programs.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Families Thrive, Zero to Five Safety Card
Practical guidance for supporting children exposed to family stress, self-care strategies for caregivers, tips for helping friends who may need support, safety planning information, and contact information for national helplines and community resources. It is intended for use alongside conversations about family well-being and domestic violence prevention.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Intimate Partner Violence: Role of the Pediatrician
This AAP clinical report highlights the important role pediatricians play in recognizing intimate partner violence (IPV), supporting survivors, and addressing the effects of IPV on children. The report explains that children exposed to IPV are at increased risk for abuse, neglect, and adverse physical, behavioral, psychological, and social outcomes. It provides guidance on identifying IPV in pediatric settings, responding safely and compassionately, and connecting families with appropriate community resources and support services.

Screening & Assessment
o    Development and Psychometric Properties of a Violence Screening Tool for Primary Care
This study describes the development and validation of the Violence, Injury, Protection, and Risk Screen (VIPRS), a brief screening tool designed to help primary care providers identify adolescents who may be at risk for future violence perpetration. Researchers evaluated risk and protective factors among youth ages 11 to 17 and developed a 14-item questionnaire that demonstrated strong reliability and validity, particularly for adolescents ages 14 to 17.
o    Interpersonal Violence (IPV) Questions
This SIREN (Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network) resource compiles interpersonal violence screening questions from a variety of commonly used health care and social needs assessment tools. The page serves as a reference for organizations seeking to identify questions that assess exposure to physical violence, emotional abuse, threats, coercion, fear, and other forms of interpersonal violence.
o    Pediatric Symptom Checklist
A psychosocial screening tool included in the Bright Futures initiative to help identify cognitive, emotional, and behavioral concerns in children and adolescents. The tool supports early recognition of mental health and psychosocial challenges and can help guide further evaluation, intervention, and referral when appropriate.
o    Screening for Interpersonal Violence: Potential Harm of Modifying Tools
This peer-reviewed article examines the risks of modifying validated interpersonal violence screening tools without proper testing and validation. The authors caution that altering screening questions, response options, scoring methods, or administration processes can affect a tool's reliability, validity, and ability to accurately identify individuals experiencing violence.
o    Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) and Youth Pediatric Symptom Checklist (Y-PSC)
Developed by Massachusetts General Hospital and featured through Bright Futures, is a validated behavioral health screening tool designed to identify emotional, behavioral, and psychosocial concerns in children and adolescents. The resource includes both a parent-completed questionnaire (PSC) and a youth self-report version (Y-PSC) for adolescents ages 11 years and older. A positive screen may indicate the need for further evaluation by a qualified healthcare or mental health professional.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    SafERteens
An evidence-based violence prevention program developed by the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention. Designed for adolescents and young adults, the program uses screening and brief, motivational interventions in healthcare settings, particularly emergency departments, to identify youth at risk for violence, promote safer behaviors and conflict-resolution skills, connect participants with supportive resources, and reduce violence involvement and related consequences.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    The Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI)
A national organization dedicated to reducing violence through hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) and community-led approaches that address trauma, promote healing, and advance health equity. HAVI supports healthcare systems, violence intervention professionals, researchers, and community partners by providing training, technical assistance, advocacy, research, and resources to strengthen violence prevention efforts.
o    Multisystemic Therapy (MST®)
An intensive, family- and community-based intervention for youth with serious behavioral challenges. MST addresses the factors influencing a young person's behavior across home, school, peer, and community environments and is used in juvenile justice, child welfare, mental health, and education settings.
o    Functional Family Therapy (FFT)
An evidence-based family counseling and intervention model designed for youth with behavioral, emotional, and relational challenges. FFT works with youth and their families to improve family communication, strengthen relationships, build problem-solving skills, and address factors that contribute to behavioral difficulties. The model focuses on engaging family members as partners in change and helping families develop skills that support long-term success.
o    Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development
Based at the University of Colorado Boulder, is a national registry of scientifically proven programs that promote healthy youth development and prevent adverse outcomes. The initiative identifies, evaluates, and disseminates evidence-based interventions for children, youth, families, and communities based on rigorous scientific standards and demonstrated effectiveness.
o    Cure Violence
An international violence prevention organization that applies a public health approach to reducing violence. The organization treats violence as a preventable behavior and works to interrupt cycles of violence, prevent future violence, and change community norms through evidence-informed strategies implemented in partnership with local communities.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
No resources listed at this time.

Screening & Assessment
o    Clinical Approaches to the Prevention of Firearm-Related Injury
This review article from the New England Journal of Medicine, authored by researchers from the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, examines the role of clinicians in preventing firearm-related injuries. The article describes firearm injury as a significant public health issue and outlines evidence-based, clinical approaches to prevention, including safe storage counseling, lethal means safety counseling, violence risk assessment, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed care. It emphasizes the importance of integrating firearm injury prevention into routine healthcare practice and highlights opportunities for clinicians to reduce risk through screening, counseling, and referral to supportive services.
o    Center for Gun Violence Prevention Clinical Team Resources
Northwell Health Center for Gun Violence Prevention provides guidance and educational materials for healthcare professionals on preventing firearm injuries. It highlights the role of clinicians in screening for firearm injury risk, discussing firearm access and storage, identifying violence-related risks, and connecting patients and families with evidence-based prevention resources. The resource also promotes the use of community violence intervention programs, trauma-informed care, and hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) to address firearm-related harm.
o    Universal Screening and Conversation Starters
Developed by the University of Michigan Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, this resource offers practical conversation starters and screening approaches to help healthcare professionals discuss firearm access and safe storage with patients and families. The resource promotes a nonjudgmental, culturally sensitive approach to firearm safety conversations and provides example questions, counseling techniques, and educational materials to support routine firearm safety screening and counseling in clinical settings.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    Is office-based counseling about media use, timeouts, and firearm storage effective? Results from a cluster-randomized, controlled trial
This study evaluated whether a brief violence-prevention intervention delivered during routine well-child visits could improve family safety behaviors. Pediatric practices were trained to counsel families about media use, discipline strategies, and firearm storage using motivational interviewing techniques and practical tools such as timers and firearm cable locks.
o    Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs)
This resource from the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention (HAVI) explains how Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs (HVIPs) use a public health approach to prevent violence and support recovery after violent injury. HVIPs connect patients who have experienced violence with specialized support services during and after hospitalization, addressing physical injuries, trauma, social needs, and risk factors for future violence. 
o    Agree to Agree: Firearm Injury Prevention for Healthcare Professionals
A national initiative that equips healthcare professionals with evidence-based resources, education, and conversation tools to help prevent firearm injuries among children, teens, and families. The initiative emphasizes finding common ground around firearm safety and encourages clinicians to discuss firearm access, safe storage, injury prevention, and risk reduction with patients and caregivers.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Asking Saves Kids (ASK)
A national firearm safety campaign from Brady United, developed in collaboration with the American Academy of Pediatrics, that encourages parents, caregivers, and guardians to ask a simple but important question before children visit another home: “Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?” The campaign aims to prevent unintentional firearm injuries and deaths by promoting secure firearm storage and increasing awareness of the risks associated with children's access to unsecured firearms.
o    Community-Led Public Safety Strategies
This fact sheet from Everytown Research & Policy highlights evidence-informed, community-based approaches to reducing gun violence and improving public safety. The resource emphasizes that violence can be prevented through locally driven strategies that address trauma, strengthen community connections, and provide support to individuals and neighborhoods most affected by violence.
o    Be SMART
A national firearm safety campaign launched in 2015 to promote responsible gun ownership and prevent child firearm injuries and deaths through secure firearm storage. The campaign provides a simple framework for parents, caregivers, educators, healthcare professionals, and community members to help keep children safe around firearms.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Firearm-Related Injuries and Deaths in Children and Youth: Injury Prevention and Harm Reduction
This AAP policy statement outlines evidence-based recommendations to prevent firearm-related injuries and deaths among children and adolescents. The statement describes firearm injury as a significant child health and public health issue and promotes a comprehensive approach that includes safe firearm storage, injury prevention counseling, suicide prevention, violence prevention, research, education, and policy strategies.
o    Firearm-Related Injuries and Deaths in Children and Youth
This companion AAP technical report reviews the epidemiology, risk factors, disparities, and prevention strategies related to firearm injuries and deaths among children and youth. The report summarizes evidence showing that firearms are a leading cause of death among youth and examines the impact of firearm access on suicide, homicide, and unintentional firearm injuries. It also discusses differences in firearm injury risk by age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
o    Participation of Children and Adolescents in Live Crisis Drills and Exercises
This AAP policy statement examines the role of children and adolescents in school crisis drills and exercises, including active shooter drills. It emphasizes balancing preparedness with the physical and psychological well-being of students and recommends eliminating children's routine involvement in high-intensity active shooter drills, prohibiting the use of deception, and ensuring that all preparedness activities are developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed.
For more information on supporting children and families in preventing firearm injuries and deaths, visit the Academy’s Patient Care Page on Firearm Safety and Injury Prevention

Screening & Assessment
o    Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ)
Developed by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the ASQ Toolkit provides a brief, evidence-based suicide risk screening tool and implementation resources for use in healthcare settings. The four-question ASQ screen is designed to identify children, adolescents, and adults who may be at risk for suicide and includes clinical pathways, training materials, safety assessment guidance, and resources for follow-up care.
o    Suicide Behavior Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R)
This peer-reviewed study describes the development and validation of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), a brief self-report measure designed to assess suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The study found that the SBQ-R demonstrated strong psychometric properties and can be used to identify individuals at elevated risk for suicidal behavior in both clinical and nonclinical settings.
o    Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) – Triage Version
Developed by the Columbia Lighthouse Project, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) is a widely used evidence-based tool for assessing suicidal ideation and behavior. The scale helps clinicians, educators, researchers, and community organizations identify suicide risk, determine the severity of suicidal thoughts and actions, and guide safety planning and intervention efforts.
o    Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 Adolescent Version (PHQ-9A)
The GLAD-PC PHQ-9 Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9A), distributed through the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and based on the Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC), is a validated screening tool used to identify symptoms of depression in adolescents. The questionnaire helps clinicians assess depression severity, monitor symptoms over time, and identify concerns that may warrant further evaluation, including suicidal thoughts.
o    Patient Safety Screener – 3 (PSS-3)
The Patient Safety Screener-3 (PSS-3), developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and featured by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC), is a brief suicide risk screening tool designed for use in emergency departments and other healthcare settings. The screener assesses recent suicidal thoughts, past suicide attempts, and current emotional distress to identify patients who may need further suicide risk assessment and intervention.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
An evidence-based suicide prevention approach that helps professionals and community members reduce suicide risk through collaborative, culturally informed conversations about access to lethal means, including firearms and medications. The program emphasizes safe storage practices while respecting individual rights, autonomy, and personal circumstances.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Suicide Prevention Resource Center
A national resource center dedicated to advancing suicide prevention through education, training, technical assistance, evidence-based resources, and implementation support. Supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and housed at the University of Oklahoma, SPRC provides tools and guidance to healthcare professionals, educators, public health practitioners, policymakers, communities, and organizations working to prevent suicide.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Suicide and Suicide Risk in Adolescents
This AAP clinical report provides updated guidance for pediatricians and other healthcare professionals on identifying, assessing, and managing suicide risk among adolescents. The report emphasizes that suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 to 24 years in the United States and highlights the importance of early recognition, screening, assessment, and intervention.
o    Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention
A comprehensive resource developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), in collaboration with experts from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The Blueprint is designed to help pediatric healthcare professionals, health systems, schools, communities, and policymakers identify and support youth at risk for suicide through evidence-informed prevention, screening, assessment, intervention, and partnership strategies.

Screening & Assessment
o    Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS)
A brief, evidence-based screening tool designed to identify students at risk for behavioral, emotional, and social challenges that may affect school safety, peer relationships, and academic success.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    Connected Kids (Violence Prevention)
An AAP initiative that provides pediatric health professionals with practical tools, anticipatory guidance, and counseling resources to promote healthy relationships, prevent violence, and support children's safety at home, in school, and in their communities.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)
A framework that helps schools create positive, safe, and supportive learning environments by promoting effective practices for behavior, social-emotional well-being, and student success. PBIS uses evidence-based strategies to improve school climate, prevent problem behaviors, and support positive outcomes for all students.
o    Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
A comprehensive, school-based bullying prevention program designed to reduce bullying, improve peer relationships, and create a safer and more positive school climate. The program uses schoolwide, classroom, individual, and community-level strategies to prevent and address bullying behaviors and support student well-being.
o    Start With Hello 
A school climate and safety program developed by Sandy Hook Promise that helps students reduce social isolation, foster inclusion, and build supportive peer relationships. Through age-appropriate lessons and activities, the program teaches students to recognize loneliness, reach out to others, and create a more connected, empathetic, and positive school community.
o    Safe Dates
An evidence-based adolescent dating violence prevention program that helps students develop healthy relationship skills and recognize the warning signs of abuse. Through classroom activities, school-wide initiatives, and community engagement, the program aims to prevent dating violence, promote respectful relationships, and reduce behaviors associated with relationship aggression and victimization.
o    Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC)
The CDC’s student-centered framework for addressing health in schools by integrating education, health, families, and community partners. The framework emphasizes the connection between health and academic achievement and promotes evidence-based policies and practices that support students’ cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Interpersonal Violence in Schools and Social Media
Examines how school-based interpersonal violence, including bullying, harassment, and other forms of aggression, can be amplified through social media and digital platforms. The resource discusses the impact of violence on youth well-being and highlights prevention, intervention, and support strategies that can help create safer and more supportive school environments.
o     School Suspension and Expulsion
This AAP policy statement examines the effects of exclusionary school discipline practices on children and adolescents and highlights their associations with adverse educational, health, and developmental outcomes. The policy statement promotes evidence-based, equitable, and supportive approaches to school discipline that foster student well-being, school connectedness, and positive academic and behavioral outcomes.

Screening & Assessment
o    Child Trauma Screen (CTS)
Developed by the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) in partnership with Yale University and the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, is a brief, standardized, validated screening tool used to identify children who may have experienced trauma and need additional assessment or treatment. The free, 10-item measure assesses trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms in children ages 6–17 and is designed for use by both clinical and non-clinical professionals in settings such as pediatrics, schools, behavioral health, child welfare, and juvenile justice. It can be administered as a self-report or interview and is available in multiple languages.
o    Pediatric Traumatic Stress Screening Tool (PTSST) 
Developed by Intermountain Healthcare, is a screening instrument designed to identify traumatic stress reactions in children and adolescents following exposure to potentially traumatic events. Based on the UCLA Brief Trauma Screen, the tool assesses trauma exposure and symptoms such as nightmares, sleep difficulties, intrusive thoughts, emotional distress, avoidance, concentration problems, social isolation, and thoughts of self-harm to help guide referrals and interventions.
o    UCLA PTSD Reaction Index (RI)
A widely used assessment tool that evaluates a child's trauma history and the full range of DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and diagnostic criteria. Designed for school-age children and adolescents, the measure is available as a clinician-administered interview and includes child and parent/caregiver versions. It can be used for assessment, treatment planning, and monitoring symptom change over time.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    Period of PURPLE Crying®
Developed by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome (NCSBS), Period of PURPLE Crying® is an evidence-based education program designed to help parents and caregivers understand normal infant crying patterns and prevent shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma (SBS/AHT). The program teaches that increased crying during early infancy is a normal stage of child development and provides strategies for soothing infants, managing caregiver frustration, and responding safely to prolonged crying.
o    Effectiveness of Educational Materials Designed to Change Knowledge and Behaviors Regarding Crying and Shaken-Baby Syndrome in Mothers of Newborns: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
This study, published in Pediatrics, evaluated the effectiveness of the Period of PURPLE Crying® educational program in improving mothers' knowledge and behaviors related to infant crying and the prevention of shaken baby syndrome/abusive head trauma. In this randomized controlled trial, more than 2,700 mothers of newborns were assigned to receive either the PURPLE intervention or control materials, with outcomes assessed two months after delivery.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    Triple P–Positive Parenting Program
An evidence-based system of parenting support that provides families with practical strategies to promote children's healthy development, strengthen parent-child relationships, and prevent behavioral, emotional, and developmental challenges. The program offers a range of support options tailored to families' needs.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    The Pediatrician’s Role in Preventing Child Maltreatment
This AAP clinical report outlines the critical role pediatricians play in preventing child maltreatment, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. The report emphasizes that child maltreatment is preventable and highlights the importance of promoting safe, stable, nurturing relationships, strengthening family resilience, and addressing factors that place children and families at risk.
For more information supporting children and families who have experienced trauma, visit the Academy’s National Center for Relational Health and Trauma-Informed Care and Patient Care Page on Child Abuse and Neglect. 

Screening
No resources listed at this time.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
No resources listed at this time.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    EmbraceRace
A nonprofit organization that provides research-informed resources, learning opportunities, and community support to help caregivers, educators, and other adults foster healthy racial learning in children. Through educational tools, trainings, and collaborations, the organization promotes racial literacy, inclusion, empathy, and informed conversations about race to support the development of thoughtful and socially aware young people.
o    My Brother's Keeper Alliance
An initiative of the Obama Foundation, works with communities across the United States to improve life outcomes for boys and young men of color. Through partnerships, mentorship, community-based initiatives, and systems-level change efforts, the Alliance supports strategies that address opportunity gaps, reduce youth violence, strengthen educational and career pathways, and promote long-term well-being.

Policies, Reports & Educational Resources 
o    The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health
This AAP policy statement examines racism as a core social determinant of child and adolescent health, outlining the evidence linking structural, interpersonal, and internalized racism to health, developmental, educational, and mental health outcomes. It provides recommendations for pediatricians, health systems, educators, researchers, and policymakers to recognize, address, and mitigate the effects of racism through clinical practice, workforce development, advocacy, community engagement, and research to advance health equity for children and families.
o    AAP Equity Agenda
This AAP Equity Agenda outlines the Academy’s organizational roadmap for advancing health equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism across pediatric practice, education, leadership, policy, and advocacy. Guided by a commitment to eliminating health inequities and promoting equitable care for all children and adolescents, the agenda establishes strategic actions to strengthen organizational accountability, diversify the pediatric workforce, support culturally effective care, and advance policies that promote child health equity.
o    Truth, Reconciliation, and Transformation: Continuing on the Path to Equity
This AAP policy statement acknowledges the Academy’s history of racial discrimination, including barriers faced by its first Black members, and outlines a commitment to truth, reconciliation, and organizational transformation. Building on the AAP’s health equity efforts, the statement affirms the need to address racism, promote diversity and inclusion, and advance policies and practices that foster equity for children, families, and pediatric health professionals.
o    AAP Diversity and Inclusion Statement
This AAP policy statement affirms the Academy’s commitment to valuing and celebrating the diversity of children, families, members, and employees. The statement emphasizes fostering inclusive, equitable, and respectful environments; promoting diversity in the pediatric workforce and leadership; and opposing bias, discrimination, and intolerance through advocacy, education, policy, and organizational practices.
o    Be Antiracist: A Journal for Awareness, Reflection, and Action
 A guided journal by Ibram X. Kendi designed to support personal reflection and learning about antiracism. Through prompts focused on topics such as race, power, class, gender, and policy, the journal encourages readers to examine their beliefs, consider their role in advancing equity, and engage in ongoing personal growth toward a more just and inclusive society.
o    How to Be an Antiracist
Authored by Ibram X. Kendi explores the concepts of racism, antiracism, justice, and equality, encouraging readers to examine personal beliefs, relationships, and societal systems. Blending memoir, history, and social commentary, the book challenges readers to move beyond awareness of racism and consider how individual actions and policies can contribute to a more equitable society.

Screening & Assessment
o    PEARR Tool: Trauma-Informed Approach to Victim Assistance in Healthcare Settings
The PEARR Tool, developed by HEAL Trafficking in collaboration with CommonSpirit Health and the Pacific Survivor Center, is a trauma-informed, patient-centered conversation guide that helps healthcare professionals recognize and respond to human trafficking and other forms of violence. PEARR stands for Provide Privacy, Educate, Ask, Respect, and Respond.

Clinical & Healthcare Interventions
o    Screening for human trafficking among homeless young adults
Describes the development and validation of the Quick Youth Indicators for Trafficking (QYIT), a brief screening tool designed to help service providers identify labor and sex trafficking experiences among homeless young adults. The study highlights the vulnerability of homeless youth to trafficking and emphasizes the importance of early identification to connect affected individuals with appropriate services and support.
o    Survivor-Informed Practice Self-Guided Assessment Tool 
A framework for organizations to evaluate and strengthen survivor-informed practices within their programs and services. The tool helps organizations assess how effectively they incorporate meaningful input from diverse survivors throughout program design, implementation, and evaluation, while identifying opportunities to enhance survivor engagement and leadership.

Community-Based Interventions & Family Supports
o    National Human Trafficking Hotline
A national resource that offers confidential support, trafficking education, reporting options, and connections to services for victims, survivors, professionals, and community members.
o    How To Respectfully Engage Anti-Trafficking Grassroots Organizations
Provides guidance for building and sustaining respectful partnerships with anti-trafficking grassroots organizations and community stakeholders. The resource outlines strategies for conducting community needs assessments, establishing collaborative relationships, engaging in trauma- and survivor-informed practices, and strengthening referral networks to better support children and families affected by trafficking and exploitation.
o    
Policies, Reports & Educational Resources
o    Child Sex Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Health Care Needs of Victims
This AAP clinical report provides guidance for pediatric health care professionals on recognizing, evaluating, and responding to child sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. The report describes risk factors, indicators of victimization, health consequences, trauma-informed care approaches, and multidisciplinary strategies to support affected children and adolescents.
o    Human Trafficking and Exploitation of Children and Adolescents
This AAP policy statement examines the recognition, prevention, identification, and response to human trafficking and exploitation of children and adolescents. It provides evidence-based guidance for pediatric health care professionals on risk factors, screening, trauma- and survivor-informed care, multidisciplinary collaboration, prevention strategies, and advocacy efforts to support children and families affected by trafficking and exploitation.

For more information on supporting children and families affected by exploitation and trafficking, visit the Academy’s Patient Care Page on Child Trafficking and Exploitation.