PSY 624 7-1 Discussion: Trauma-Informed Care – Why Now?

Help me study for my Psychology class. I’m stuck and don’t understand.

Rubric, readings, and responses attached.

Trauma-informed care is one form of treatment for youth in the child welfare system, residential homes, and trainings for foster care programs. In your initial post, evaluate why you think trauma-informed care is being used in the child welfare system, especially in residential programs. In addition, address the following in your initial post:

• Is trauma-informed care effective in the residential setting? Provide specific examples where possible.
• Do you think high turnover of group home and residential staff may impact the treatment? Explain.

In your response posts to your peers, reflect on the feasibility of providing trauma-informed care in the child welfare system. Further the discussion on the ethical considerations when providing trauma-informed care in the child welfare system.

The U.S. child welfare system has been around since the mid-1800s, though in a very different form than it currently exists. The system has changed a great deal since its inception. It has evolved from children being saved from indentured servitude to a maze of foster care, residential programs, and community-based treatments designed to keep kids at home. Trauma-informed care has become a popular treatment for youth involved in the system. Youth in child welfare often have multiple layers of trauma when they enter the system. First, they have experienced the trauma of being removed from their family unit. No matter what the circumstances, it is always difficult for these youths to be removed from their home. They are now away from their parents and siblings, and could potentially be in a new school. Typically, these youths have also been witnesses to sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and/or domestic violence in the home. They may also be the victims of neglect. There are three well-known types of trauma:

• Acute – Generally a single or time-limited event
• Chronic – Repeated exposure to traumatic events such as physical or sexual abuse
• Complex trauma – Interpersonal, ongoing, and often intensifying abuse, which causes a severe traumatic response and long-term effects

The impact of trauma can influence behaviors and the future of the victims. Trauma can also influence school performance, both academically and behaviorally. A youth experiencing or who has experienced trauma may have more difficulty paying attention in school. Other areas impacted may include problem solving, cognition, and memory. Trauma may cause somatic symptoms like headaches, migraines, and stomach issues. Trauma may also impact a youth’s ability to control emotions and may cause a youth to overreact or underreact to situations or may lead to poor decision making due to trauma history.

The child welfare system does not always create the best environment to work on trauma. It can be difficult to avoid re-traumatizing the youth if he or she comes into placement with a trauma history. Trauma-informed care works with the belief that anyone that youth encounter within the system will be trauma-informed and will take an active role in helping them work through their trauma.

Important areas of trauma-informed care include letting the youth know they are safe, helping them with emotional management, helping them process loss, and helping them look towards the future. It is important in residential programs, especially within the child welfare system, to have trained staff that can help the youth when they are first brought into the programs. These trained staff must build trust and rapport with the youth to make it as positive an experience as it can be.

In Module Eight, you will examine sexual abuse treatment. You will learn about the types of treatment recommended for sexual abuse and how treatment may be delivered to the individual, the victim, and the family unit.