Children throughout the world are exposed to traumatic events such as sexual or physical abuse, severe accidents, cancer or other life threatening illness, natural or man-made disasters, war, terrorism, the sudden death of a parent or close friend or relative, among other things. Recently, natural disasters have caused property damage and loss of life in locations throughout the world. This special issue summarizes interventions that have been used in the aftermath of traumatic events in diverse locations throughout the world. These include Greece (earthquakes, fires, and the H1N1 virus outbreak), Indonesia (earthquake), China (earthquake), Sri Lanka (tsunami), and the United States (hurricanes). In addition, a general discussion of empirically-based treatment approaches for children is provided. The amount and severity of childhood trauma is an issue that should concern school psychologists across the globe and the importance of including a diverse global perspective in designing and implementing interventions is stressed.
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