Understanding Trauma

Many children involved in the child welfare system have experienced trauma. Trauma can have a significant effect on a child's development as well as their psychosocial health. Below, find capacity building resources that will help child welfare practitioners and caregivers understand the ways in which traumatic experiences shape a child’s behavior and development.

About Child Trauma
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Defines traumatic events and explains experiences that may be traumatic. This resource also explains stress symptoms that may occur in response to trauma, as well as risk and protective factors for posttraumatic stress disorders.

Child Trauma Academy
Offers free online courses on several trauma-related topics as well as access to articles, videos, and other materials on working with traumatized children and youth.

Children and Trauma Resources
American Psychological Association
Presents current information about the development and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in youth, as well as addresses gaps remaining in the field’s knowledge of the disorder. The resource includes a policy briefing and tips for mental health professionals.

How Do Children of Different Ages Experience Trauma?
Casey Family Programs (2018) 
Compares children’s experience of trauma across different ages from young children (0–5) to school-age children (6–12) and adolescents (13–18). The resource discusses how those working in the child welfare system should understand not all trauma looks the same and that trauma may present itself differently in children across different ages and stages of life. 

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children and Adolescents
Hamblen & Barnett
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for PTSD
Provides information on events that may cause PTSD, the number of children affected, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment.

Signs of Trauma in Children
Child Mind Institute
Differentiates normal grief in response to challenging experiences from unhealthy coping mechanisms that may indicate trauma symptoms.

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