Foster Care Training

Youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems often experience extensive trauma in their backgrounds. Many youth experience complex trauma due to chronic exposure to multiple and severe traumatic events. Review the impact of trauma on youth development, including mental health and behavioral consequences. Discuss the trauma related disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); complex trauma; reactive attachment disorder; and disinhibited social engagement disorder. Review evidence-based practices and treatment approaches for working with youth who have trauma-related disorders. Explore the development and components of self-regulation skills in maintaining positive mental health. Discuss cognitive and behavioral techniques for helping youth impacted by trauma develop physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral self-regulation skills.

By the end of this training students should be able to:

• Identify trauma-related disorders diagnose and symptoms including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, reactive attachment, and disinhibited social engagement disorder.
• Describe evidence-based practices and treatment approaches for working with youth who have PTSD and attachment disorders.
• Describe the development and components of self-regulation skills in children and youth including physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral self-regulations.
• Identify cognitive and behavioral techniques used in developing self-regulation skills and supporting youth impact by trauma.