This course is based on a publication of the Centers for Disease Control about childhood stress and its effects on various outcomes throughout the lifespan. It describes the different types of stress and discusses the effects of childhood stress on early childhood brain development and on the physical, behavioral, and mental health of adult populations. This course also includes an overview of childhood stress prevention and treatment strategies. This publication is written in simple terms making the concepts easy to grasp. It serves as an excellent resource for mental health professionals who would like to build or refresh their knowledge about childhood stress.
Psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists can benefit from this course. This course may also be helpful for other practitioners, such as midwives and dieticians and nutritionists who may work with children and adolescents. This course is appropriate for beginning, intermediate and advanced level practitioners who want to learn more about childhood stress and who wish to develop their clinical skills in this area.
Author: Centers for Disease Control
Learning Objectives: This course will provide a professional with an overview of childhood stress. Specifically, a professional will:
Define the types of stress and its effects on early childhood brain development.
Describe the findings of the ACE study on the relationship between childhood stress and adult health and behavior.
Identify childhood stress prevention and treatment strategies.
Citation: Centers for Disease Control (2008). The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan. Atlanta: GA
Course description and exam by Bianca Perez, M.S.
Credits: 1
Exam Fee: $11.00
Format: Online
Ce-Classes is approved by the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling Provider #852 BAP-Exp 3/2011
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ASWB Approval Period: 1/5/08 - 1/5/11 Social workers should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.
Social workers will receive 1credits for continuing education clock hours
in participating in this course. (* Please see course descriptions for ceu information, one ceu =
one continuing education clock hour)
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Exam Questions for Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan
1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of stress? It consists of internal and external influences It helps children develop useful skills Human beings experience it before they are born Tolerance for stress increases with age 2. ______ stress results from short-lived adverse experiences which produce minor physiological changes. Toxic Positive Negative Tolerable 3. Experiencing the death of a loved one would be an example of _______ stress. Toxic Positive Negative Tolerable 4. With adequate support, _______ stress can become _________ stress and benefit the child developmentally. Tolerable; positive Negative; positive Toxic; tolerable The nature of stress is unchangeable 5. Which of the following sequences is accurate regarding stress and early childhood brain development? Negative stress � cortisol levels rise � frontal lobe damage � cognitive impairment Toxic stress � hippocampus damage � cortisol levels rise � cognitive impairment Toxic stress - cortisol level rise � hippocampus damage � cognitive impairment Negative stress � cortisol levels rise - cognitive impairment � frontal lobe damage 6. Experiencing physical neglect and watching parents divorce during childhood would yield an ACE score of . . . 2 3 4 Can not be determined 7. According to the findings of the ACE study, about what percentage of women had an ACE score of 4 or greater? 15% 20% 30% 33% 8. According to the findings of the ACE study, about what percentage of people with an ACE score of 6 attempted suicide? 8% 14% 22% 35% 9. Which type of strategy is not accounted for in the sociological-ecological model? Societal Cultural Community Relationship 10. A systematic review conducted by the non-federal Task Force on Community Preventive Services found that early childhood home visitation results in a ____ percent reduction in episodes of abuse and neglect. 30% 40% 50% 60%
Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan 
If you would like to take this course for your CE program, it is recommended that you:
