NCJ Number
244937
Date Published
2013
Length
131 pages
Annotation
This publication is a guide for administrators working to create trauma-informed child welfare systems.
Abstract
This publication, developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, is a guide for administrators working to create trauma-informed child welfare systems. The goal of this guidebook is to help anyone connected to the child welfare system to understand the following: how childhood traumatic stress affects children; how the system can either help mitigate the impact of trauma or inadvertently add new traumatic experiences; how the culture of the child and family influences the child's response to trauma; how child and family resiliency after trauma can be enhanced; how current and past trauma impacts the families with whom child welfare workers interact; how adult trauma interferes with adult caregivers' ability to care and support their children; how vicarious trauma impacts the child welfare workforce; how exposure to trauma is part of the child welfare job; how trauma has shaped the culture of the child welfare system, the same way trauma shapes the world view of child victims; and how trauma-informed systems will integrate a range of evidence-based and trauma-specific treatments and practices. The 15 chapters of the guidebook are divided into 4 sections: (1) Cross-Cutting Issues, (2) Child Welfare Practice, (3) Mental Health Practice, and (4) Cross-System Partnering, with each chapter having the following domains: why the subject is important to child welfare, a brief summary, background information, recommendations from the field, and a list of resources. Tables, figures, and resources