Trauma and Immigrant Families in the Child Welfare System

A Social Worker's Tool Kit for Working With Immigrant Families – Healing the Damage: Trauma and Immigrant Families in the Child Welfare System (September 2010)

Written by the Migration and Child Welfare National Network, this tool kit provides guidelines for integrating child welfare practice with trauma-informed care and trauma-specific services. The tool kit contains answers to frequently asked questions illustrated by case examples, as well as website links and other resources.

Direct link: http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-children/programs/child-welfare-migration/tool-kits.html

Trauma and Homeless Youth

•  Fact Sheet on Trauma and Homeless Children
• Trauma Among Homeless Youth 
• Videoconference on Working With Runaway and Homeless Youth
• Fostering Resilience in Displaced, Traumatized Families
• Fostering Resilience in Homeless Youth

 Visit the National Child Traumatic Stress Network for more resources on homeless youth.

Trauma and the Juvenile Justice System

Trauma and Justice:

• Traumatic victimization often results in negative behaviors that bring both youth and adults into the criminal justice system.

• Studies of people in jail and prison reveal high rates of mental and substance use disorders and personal histories of trauma.

Adapting CBITS and SSET to Support Foster Care Youth

Toolkit for Adapting Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) or Supporting Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET) for Implementation with Youth in Foster Care  (Dana Schultz, Dionne Barnes-Proby, Anita Chandra, Lisa H. Jaycox, Erin Maher, Peter Pecora)

The purpose of this toolkit is to assist school-based mental health professionals, school personnel, and child welfare social workers in adapting these interventions for use with youth aged 10-15 who are in foster care:

• CBITS was developed for use by school-based mental health professionals for any student with symptoms of distress following exposure to trauma. 
• SSET was adapted from CBITS for use by any school personnel with the time and interest to work with students affected by trauma.

The authors note that delivering a school-based mental health program to youth in foster care has many challenges, including collaboration between the child welfare and education systems, confidentiality and information sharing policies regarding youth in foster care, and identification of these youth.

The toolkit was designed to help understand these challenges and provide strategies for addressing them. It is made up of three parts:

• Background Section
• Overview of CBITS and SSET
• Step-By-Step Guide to Implementing and Adapting CBITS/SSET for Foster Care Youth

Healing Invisible Wounds: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense

The Justice Policy Institute has issued a brief examining the relationship between childhood trauma and youth justice system involvement.

The brief, Healing Invisible Wounds: Why Investing in Trauma-Informed Care for Children Makes Sense, notes that of the more than 93,000 children who are currently incarcerated nationwide, between 75 percent and 93 percent have experienced at least one traumatic experience, including sexual abuse, war, community violence, neglect, and maltreatment, which can have long-term effects such as emotional problems and negative impacts on youth brain development.

According to the brief, the U.S. justice system does not meet the needs of traumatized youth and may in fact increase trauma through its use of incarceration. Youth who receive treatment in their communities have better outcomes than those placed in correctional facilities, which indicates the need for trauma exposure to be considered in youth placement decisions.

When Helping You Is Hurting Me

When helping you is hurting me

View more presentations from Lisa Dickson.

Rewriting the scripts in a child's life

What the movie Martian Child teaches about trauma and food hoarding

Boy in a Box: What the movie Martian Child teaches about responding to child trauma

Foster Care Youth and Chosen Family

"Family isn't whose blood you carry,

it's who you love and who loves you"

~ Jackie Chan as Bob Ho from The Spy Next Door

Stress Hormones Predict Trouble for Kids Left in Abusive Homes

Stress Hormones Predict Trouble for Kids Left in Abusive Homes'
Business Week, May 5, 2010.

Specific hormonal pattern tied to later psychological problems, researchers say...

Children who live with their parents after local child protective services agency enters their lives have worrying levels of a stress hormone compared to those who end up in foster care.

Researchers at the University of Delaware at Newark studied 339 children aged 3 months to 31 months, 155 of whom lived with their birth parents and 184 who landed in foster care, all after child protective services became involved with the families.

The researchers analyzed levels of the hormone cortisol in the children for two days, and found that those who remained with their parents had flatter slopes.

"A blunted pattern of cortisol production appears to confer risk for later psychiatric disorders, most especially psychopathy and substance abuse problems," study author Kristin Bernard and her colleagues wrote. "Although it is premature to suggest specific implications for neglected children, the findings are concerning."

The authors concluded that "foster care may have a regulating influence on children's cortisol among children who have experienced maltreatment."

The findings were published May 3 in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Youth-Centered Approach to Achieving Permanency

In 2005, the Children's Bureau funded nine demonstration projects through an Adoption Opportunities grant.

Interviews with youth shed light on their feelings about family and permanency:

• The level of commitment an adult brings to the relationship with a youth is what constitutes family—not blood.

• Permanency is a process of building trust, and finding a family is almost always worth the risk.

• Permanency work is not just about finding a home but includes restoring family connections that have been lost. Sibling relationships have been significant to older youth in the project.

• Youth are proud of their self-reliance and their ability to overcome adversity.

For more information about the Dumisha Jamaa Project, visit the National Resource Center for Adoption website.

Understanding the Effects of Maltreatment on Brain Development

Another tool for understanding the emotional, mental, and behavioral impact of early abuse and neglect in children who come to the attention of the child welfare system:

This Child Welfare Information Gateway brief provides basic information for professionals on brain development and the effects of abuse and neglect on that development.

SAMHSA Evidence-Based Practice Kits

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is offering a new series of Evidence-Based Practice KITs. The KITs were developed to help move the latest information available on effective behavioral health practices into community-based service delivery.

The KITs contain information sheets, introductory videos, practice demonstration videos, and training manuals.

Currently, five KITs are available:

• Assertive Community Treatment
• Integrated Treatment for Co-Occurring Disorders
• Supported Employment
• Family Psychoeducation
• Illness Management and Recovery

These new KITs are available online and in CD-ROM/DVD format.

Reaching Out to Connect Teens and Young Adults With Resources

REACHOUT.com is an information and support service using evidence based principles and technology to help teens and young adults facing tough times and struggling with mental health, substance abuse and other issues.

All content is written by teens and young adults, for teens and young adults, to meet them where they are, and help them recognize their own strengths and use those strengths to overcome their difficulties and/or seek help if necessary.

NAMI Launches Social Networking Site for Young Adults

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has launched StrengthofUs.org, a new online community where young adults living with mental health concerns can provide mutual support in navigating unique challenges and opportunities during the critical transition years from ages 18 to 25.

Developed by young adults, StrengthofUs.org is a user-driven social networking community where members can connect with peers, share personal stories, creativity and helpful resources by writing and responding to blog entries, engaging in discussion groups and sharing videos, photos and other news.

The site offers resources on issues important to young adults, including:

• Healthy relationships
• Family and friends
• Campus life
• Independent living
• Finances
• Employment
• Housing
• Mental health issues

"Young adulthood is an exciting challenge, but also a confusing and stressful time for anyone," said Michael Fitzpatrick, NAMI executive director. "Life can throw things at you fast."

"Mental illness affects everyone. StrengthofUs.org is intended not just for young adults who have a mental illness, but for anyone entering adulthood that has a friend, parent or other family member facing a mental health problem."

"Most of all, StrengthofUs.org is an interactive, fun space where young adults can share experiences and other information to empower each other, build relationships and offer peer support."

Resiliency Ohio Recently Launched

The website http://www.resiliencyohio.org/ is designed to help children and youth with mental and emotional health challenges and their families learn about and embrace resiliency.

The concepts, and website materials were developed by Resiliency Leadership Ohio, which is comprised of youth experiencing mental health issues and their family members.

Resiliency is defined as an inner capacity that when nurtured, facilitated, and supported by others empowers children, youth, and families to successfully meet life's challenges with a sense of self-determination, mastery, hope, and well-being.

The website includes a video of Ohio youth and families speaking about the role of resiliency in their lives and the importance of having a resiliency perspective for mental wellness.