Trauma informed care is a philosophy and cutting-edge practice, based in neuroscience, that recognizes the effect trauma such as abuse and neglect has on brain development and behavior. We train our foster parents on trauma informed care as a way to mitigate the effects of trauma, so they can help their foster children heal and thrive.
Trauma informed care can be defined in many different ways. We believe the following elements are helpful in understanding what it is and how to implement it.
Seven Essential Ingredients
Prevalence – Exposure to and difficulty adjusting to adverse experiences is significantly more common than we previously had known. A keen appreciation for the scope of adverse events, especially on children, is a key element to understanding the needs of people who have been exposed to events such as domestic violence and substance abuse, separation/divorce, mental illness, physical and sexual abuse, emotional and physical neglect, and acts of violence.
Impact – Trauma occurs when a person’s ability to cope with an adverse event is overwhelmed and contributes to difficulties in functioning. The impact of this process is profound, especially when the adverse event occurs during key developmental timeframes. The seminal ACE (adverse childhood experiences) study shows how early trauma also can have a serious effect on a person’s physical health in later life and ultimately impact life expectancy.
Perspective Shift – A shift in perspective can bring a new reality. Helping those charged with caring for people struggling with trauma by simply changing the question from “What is wrong with you?” to “What has happened to you and how can I support you?” can bring enormous understanding.
Regulation – Knowledge of the basic architecture of the brain provides both an understanding of the impact of trauma and a key toward effective treatment. Many of the interventions that have been offered to people struggling with trauma have focused on the cognitive or “thinking” parts of the brain. Trauma informed interventions often prioritize enhancing emotional and behavioral regulation. This could include the use of sensory and regulating strategies such as drumming, singing, dancing, yoga, etc., which have been shown to be effective in addressing the impact of trauma.
Relationship – Relationships are key to reaching a traumatized child and to mitigating trauma. Strong relationships help create resilience and shield a child from the effects of trauma.
Reason to Be – Reason to be creates a sense of purpose or direction for individuals by ensuring they’re connected to family, community and culture. It is bolstered by resiliency – a combination of the individual’s internal attributes and the external resources that support them.
Caregiver Capacity – To effectively work with traumatized individuals, caregivers must take care of themselves and find a work/life balance. Critical is identifying our limits, knowing sometimes we will be pushed beyond them, and what we will do to find balance.
For more information, visit SaintA’s section on Trauma Informed Care.