Helping Children in the Child Welfare System Heal from Trauma: A Systems Integration Approach

Date

2005

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Abstract

The mental health needs of children and families in the child welfare system require consistent, ongoing attention of all of the systems that work with the child. The child welfare system, schools, and the network of community-based organizations serving the needs of maltreated children will be most effective by working both individually and jointly to respond to the unique mental health needs of children and youth with histories of abuse and trauma. This is a report on the results of a survey conducted among child-serving agencies in a number of states. Primary goal of the survey was to understand how various service systems and agencies communicate with each other about trauma in the children they serve. Also identifies the ways agencies may inadvertently be re-traumatizing some children, how they promote a child’s healing following a traumatic event, and gaps in communication among agencies and systems. Knowledge gained from the survey can inform the development of training and educational materials to breach the gaps and to improve collaboration. (NCTSN and Author Summary)

Description

Keywords

child abuse, child welfare, courts, child protection, mental health, research

Citation

Taylor, N., & Siegfried, C. B. (2005). Helping Children in the Child Welfare System Heal from Trauma: A Systems Integration Approach. National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

DOI