Understanding Trauma

Most 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.

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Family Risk Factors, and Child Permanency Outcomes of Very Young Children Involved in Safe Babies Court Team Sites (PDF - 488 KB)
Quality Improvement Center for Research-Based Infant-Toddler Court Teams (2018) 
Describes factors related to positive permanency outcomes for young children participating in Safe Babies Court Team sites, which focuses on promoting protective factors among parents who experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences and their children.  

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Response
Presents a project that uses research to create practical strategies for preventing ACEs and treating their consequences. The website describes the restorative integral support model, which emphasizes leadership and collaboration to address and prevent trauma.

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: Report of the Task Force on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Trauma in Children and Adolescents
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.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Children and Adolescents
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.

Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Provides two learning modules to help participants understand, recognize, and prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). This training is available to anyone interested in learning more about ACEs regardless of profession or educational attainment. 

Section 4: Trauma in the Child Welfare System
Child and Family Services Reviews Information Portal (2013)
Provides information on how to deal with trauma in the child welfare system. This e-training module covers child maltreatment and its negative effects on children, the usefulness of screening and assessment tools for trauma, and the importance of evidence-based and trauma-informed interventions.

Trauma Resources [Video]
Granite State College (2015)
Includes a series of videos from the perspectives of different stakeholders who provide information about the need for trauma-informed care while working in the field of child welfare.

Tutorial 6: Recognizing and Addressing Trauma in Infants, Young Children, and Their Families
Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (2011)
Discusses what is meant by trauma, how to recognize the developmental context of trauma in early childhood, and how early childhood mental health professionals can extend their knowledge for intervention through consultation.

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