Despite trauma being widespread and detrimental to the well-being of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, few early care and education (ECE) programs and state systems are prepared to offer care that is "trauma-informed"--with all adults able to recognize and respond to the impact of trauma on young children, and to infuse trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills into program culture, practices, and policies. This report describes early childhood trauma and its effects and offers promising strategies for ECE programs and systems to help young children who have experienced trauma. The report includes: (1) a definition of early childhood trauma, including different types, and its prevalence; (2) the impacts of early childhood trauma on the child, family, and ECE programs; (3) the special needs of young children who have experienced trauma; (4) a description of trauma-informed care; (5) promising program strategies to support the healthy development and learning of young children in ECE; and (6) recommendations of policies that could increase the capacity of ECE providers to help children who have experienced trauma learn and thrive. [For the Executive Summary, see ED586351.]