How does becoming trauma-informed help the support you give?
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How Does Trauma Affect Kids from Foster Care?

Kids all deal with stress and traumatic situations differently. These situations affect children spiritually, emotionally and physically. In most cases, a child will be able to cope in a healthy manner, with few lasting effects

However, the trauma many kids in foster care endure is beyond what most children experience, and this severe trauma can have effects and triggers that require time and extra attention for healing.

Examples of Severe Trauma Events

  • Sexual and physical abuse
  • Exposure to domestic violence in the home
  • Chronic, long-term neglect
  • Exposure to substance abuse
  • Ongoing, severe emotional abuse

 
 

While all children need the love and support of their family and friends, often times, kids from foster care have responses and triggers that may seem difficult or behaviorally challenging. It’s important to keep in mind that their behaviors are often an attempt to cope with a past trauma which they never should have had to endure.

Examples of a Child's Response to Trauma

  • Frequent severe tantrums
  • Aggressive attitude with others
  • Impulsive actions which may threaten their health or safety
  • Consistent disruptive behavior
  • Organizational and educational difficulties

As a support team member, recognize that you're not just helping a family raise kids. You're helping a family bring healing and hope to kids who’ve experienced severe trauma.

You have the unique opportunity to support the family with actions, gifts, and relationships that help them through the process of coping with severe trauma.

 

 

Tangible Ways to Support Coping

  1. Organize respite care for a family.  Whether it's one hour, one afternoon, or one weekend a month, offer to give parents a time to rest and refresh.  (Check with parents or agency to understand the requirements for respite care).
  2. Provide soothing music and books for bedtime.
  3. Create a sensory diet kit! Kids coping with trauma often benefit from having diverse sensory objects to play with and touch.  Include things like ​play-dough, bubble-wrap, a sand table, stress balls, or check out more ideas here!
  4. Acquire fun or customized water bottles to keep kids hydrated.

Summer Camp Registration is Open!

One thing trauma-informed support team members understand is a family's need to refresh and meet other families and kids with similar experiences. Camp can be a great way to do this! Check out last year's support team email on camps for more information, and if you're interested in a Colorado camp, read about Horn Creek Camp below.

Castle Peak Adoptive and Foster Family Camp: This camp has all the fun, relaxation and family time that Horn Creek is known for, and you’ll get a chance to hang out with a diverse group of families from all over the country. Throughout the week, you'll discuss topics that are particularly relevant to your adoptive and foster family, and, if your adopted or foster child is new to your home, that child comes for free. 

 
 
 
 

March 2014: Supporting a Family Through Camp

March: Supporting a Family Through Camp
 
 

Support Team: Fundamentals