Foster Care Training

This training, part of a 3-part series, will explore concepts of Restorative Practices and how they are relevant to youth in care. In this second training, there will be a focus on trauma-informed restorative practices. The concepts of trauma-informed care have evolved over the past 30 years from a variety of streams of thought and innovation. They are now being applied in a wide range of settings, including in the practice of Restorative Justice. In the simplest terms, the concept of trauma-informed Restorative Justice is straightforward. If providers were to pause and consider the role trauma and lingering traumatic stress plays in the lives of the specific youth served by an individual, professional, or organization, how would they behave differently? What steps would they take to avoid, or at least minimize, adding new stress or inadvertently reminding youth of their past traumas? How can they better help their traumatized clients heal? In effect, by looking at how the entire system is organized and services are delivered through a “trauma lens,” what should be done differently? The answer can be used to guide practice, policy, procedures, and even how the physical caregiving environment is structured.