Comprehensive Overview of Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare has compiled a comprehensive overview of Trauma-Informed Child Practice for Winter 2013.

Quoting from page 26, referring to No Way Home: Understanding the Needs and Experiences of Homeless Youth in Hollywood” (Rabinovitz, Desai, Schneir,and Clark, 2010):

• Approximately half (48%) of the youth surveyed (n=389) reported previous or current involvement with the child protective services system (CPS); forty percent of youth reported having been removed from their homes by CPS. The mean age when youth reported having been removed by CPS was 9.3 years old. 
• Almost all (95%) of the youth who had been removed from home had been placed in a group home at some time, and close to one-third of the youth reported they had been in 6 or more group homes.
• Clearly, our child welfare system has not been effective in finding these children and youth the safe and permanent housing they require for healthy development.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control's Division of Violence Protection has recently released a publication entitled: Essentials for Childhood: Steps to Create Safe, Stable and Nurturing Relationships.

One of the evidence-based programs they recommend is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: PCIT improves the quality of parent-child relationships and changes how parents and children interact with one another. Parents learn specific skills to build a nurturing and secure relationship with their child. Coaches work directly with parent-child pairs to help them learn new skills.

Trauma Informed Child Welfare Practice

What does it really mean to have trauma-informed child welfare practice? 
The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare has recently published a comprehensive look at this prevalent child welfare issue.

 

 

Toolkit on Court-Involved Youth Exposed to Violence

Research shows that most youth entering the juvenile justice system are estimated to have been exposed to violence and other traumatic events, oftentimes having experienced multiple types of victimizations.

Youth in the juvenile justice system already face significant challenges related to their incarceration and justice involvement, including separation from their families, communities, education and other positive social networks.

Having a trauma-informed justice system is critical to promoting the well-being of the child, their families and the community.

Developed in partnership with the American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law, Child and Family Policy Associates and the Chadwick Center for Children and Families, this collection of resources offers practice tips for juvenile defenders, children's attorneys and GALs, judges, and CASAs and provides guidance on policy reforms and other considerations for trauma-informed advocacy in the courts.

Polyvictimization of Children

 

Polyvictimization refers to having experienced multiple victimizations such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, bullying, and exposure to family violence.

Parental Exposure to Trauma

Chapin Hall recently released a report that explores how parents' personal histories and extensive exposure to trauma as children affect their adult functioning.

Consumer Voice and Trauma Treatment

SAMSHA has identified three trauma treatment principles that evidence-based treatments should embody:

• First, behavioral health treatment providers must understand the dynamics and impact of trauma on children’s lives.  
• Secondly, children and their caregivers receiving treatment should be involved in the design, delivery, and evaluation of the services. 
• Third, providers should be culturally sensitive when offering services.

Volume 95 of the Virginia Child Protection Newsletter (VCPN) focuses on evidence-based treatments for childhood trauma.

This publication:

• Provides information about specific evidence-based treatments, the impact of trauma on children, what child welfare workers can do to offer trauma-informed services, and resources. 
• Includes a listing of questions to ask treatment providers
• Highlights State Practice Improvement Projects in North Carolina and South Carolina
• Discusses INVEST for Children: A Community-Based Learning Collaborative in Virginia