Identification of patient strengths

Ask about 4 groups of positive childhood experiences that promote optimal development and resilience. The specific questions are samples, meant to help identify child and family strength and connection.

1. Relationships at home and school: Do you feel safe and supported at home at school? Parents: Who can help you with your children when you need it? Older children and teens: Do you have friends who stick by you when things are tough? Do you have adults, other than your parents, who know you and support you?
2. Environment: Do you feel safe and protected at school? What do you like best about school (Note: not about academic performance)?
3. Engagement: Parents: Are you involved in any parent groups (ie, faith-based or neighborhood parents’ groups or listservs)? Children: Do you participate in any extracurricular activities at school, other programs or youth groups?
4. Emotional growth: What do you do for fun (Note: Looking for child-directed play, encounters with nature)?

Sege RD, Browne CH. Responding to ACEs with HOPE: health outcomes from positive experiences. Acad Pediatr. 2017;17(7S):S79-S85