A Critical Reflection and Application of Family Communication Processes and Theory: Infants in BLOOM, a Trauma-Informed ACE Intervention

Families affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are situated in a healthcare system that unintentionally reinforces stigma, siloed care, and access barriers – especially deleterious during the transition to parenthood for people who have a history of substance use. In this praxis-oriented essay, we critically reflect on limitations of dominant healthcare systems and illustrate how a pediatric intervention, Infants in BLOOM, operationalizes trauma-informed communication to strengthen family resilience. We use a composite case to illustrate a practical application of Buzzanell’s communication theory of resilience, arguing that key features of the intervention (in-place care, relationship-centered and multi-modal communication, multidisciplinary services) exemplify resilience processes through ongoing interactions among caregivers, infants, healthcare providers, and community supports. We conclude that family communication theory offers a valuable framework for trauma-informed ACE interventions that interrupt intergenerational cycles of adversity while strengthening family relationships during the newborn period.