Infants and Toddlers in Foster Care: Brain Development, Attachment Theory, and the Critical Importance of Early Experiences for Infants and Toddlers in Out of Home Placement

Children under the age of four account for 25% of all child victims of substantiated maltreatment. Early relationships are essential to healthy development. The mental health needs of infants and toddlers who enter the foster care system are often neglected. Infants and toddlers are completely dependent on adults for their survival and well-being. It is crucial that professionals involved in their care be educated and sensitive to the unique developmental needs of this age group. This book will address the current research regarding infant brain development, effects of maltreatment on infants and toddlers, and attachment theory as it applies to infants and toddlers in foster care.