The 2010 earthquakes in Haiti initiated crises for one of the world’s poorest nations. This
transpired amidst pervasive, pre-disaster hardships, with the resulting situation described as
‘acute on chronic’ trauma exposure. The current paper provides a description of a dynamic
model focused on three factors of consideration for similar crises: cultural context, unfolding
traumatic events and developmental processes. Knowledge from developmental psychology can
inform humanitarian aid efforts to effectively address the unique needs of children. Recommendations
are offered for research, clinical work and policy related to the mental health
needs of children where ‘acute on chronic’ conditions exist.