February 2025 – The International Step by Step Association (ISSA) published a brief that explores the integration of Psychological First Aid (PFA) and trauma-informed practices into early childhood systems to support children and caregivers facing adversity. It highlights the crucial role of early childhood professionals in mitigating the effects of trauma and toxic stress, particularly for refugee, migrant, and marginalized communities.
The report presents insights from ISSA’s Foundational Training on PFA, a Training-of-Trainers program designed to build workforce capacity, promote resilience, and embed trauma-sensitive approaches into pre-service and in-service training. It makes recommendations and calls for systemic change, emphasizing accreditation, institutionalization, and peer-learning to sustain impact.