ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study of Kara and Ava. Kara, a mother experiencing homelessness, and her 11-month-old female infant, Ava, have recently moved into a shelter after leaving the family home where Kara was domestically abused by Ava's father. Ava, who has been attending a child care program for eight months, is a socially responsive and happy baby who started walking at ten months and is typically developing. The director is concerned that Ava is taking up too much of Tasha's time and the other infants are not getting their needs met, especially since they are short staffed at the program. Ava's tears and behaviors are communicating an important part of her trauma story. The plan allowed Kara to mitigate Ava's defensive behavioral strategies so they would not become conditioned. The objective was for Kara to arrive at the child care center early enough to engage Ava in a pleasurable and sensory regulating activity in a quiet area.
