An Interdisciplinary Approach to Toxic Stress: Learning the Lingo.

Abstract

> In conjunction with the Editorial Board of Pediatrics , the Editorial Board of the SOPT Monthly Feature is proud to present the winning essay of the First Annual Advocacy Essay Competition, written by Dr Laura Livaditis. Inspired by the Advocacy Campaign of 2017, “Partnering for Resilience: Learn, Empower and Connect to Address Toxic Stress,” this year’s essay competition sought to increase awareness on this critical topic by asking for submissions that examine the effects and management of toxic stress. The following pages feature Dr Livaditis’s article, in which she demonstrates the importance of developing medical-legal partnerships as a means of combating toxic stress. > > Catherine Spaulding, MD, Editor, Pediatrics , SOPT Monthly Feature As I prepared to meet one of the founders of a legal advocacy nonprofit organization, I reminded myself of the buzzwords I wanted to slip into the conversation: “adverse childhood experiences,” “health disparities,” “trauma-informed care,” and “toxic stress.” During the discussion, the lawyer responded with her own jargon: “juvenile lifer,” “ Graham v Florida ,” and “mitigation hearings.” She then told me a story that seemed unbelievable: that the United States is the only country in which youth can be sentenced to life in prison without the prospect of parole; that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania single-handedly contributes nearly 25% of the world’s juvenile lifers to the prison system1; and that only within the past decade has the US Supreme Court committed to incorporating neurodevelopmental research into its decisions regarding capital punishment. In fact, only in 2012 … Address correspondence to Laura V. Livaditis, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, 1800 Orleans St, 8th floor, Baltimore, MD 21287. E-mail: llivadi1{at}jhu.edu