Did you know that brains that have developed on a constant high alert (hypervigilance) from a young age dominantly use the primitive part of the brain meant to keep us alive, also known as the fight/flight/freeze mode? People who have undergone such ordeals may become erratic, violent, over-excited, or jumpy at things generally considered minor. For instance, if someone suddenly came into the room.

A study on the Prevalence and Severity of PTSD among Children in Nyeri County, Kenya, established that PTSD prevalence is higher among younger children compared to older children. The studies further highlight that repeated exposure to such traumatic events in formative years, when vital brain structures are still developing, carries a greater risk for mental illness.

The impact of prolonged or extreme trauma is not limited to mental health issues; it also includes social and emotional problems and other severe physical health problems. Child Welfare social workers will likely need to confront past trauma when caring for vulnerable children.

So how then do you best interact with a child experiencing severe distress or trauma as a social worker? How do you help the child navigate their emotions or the difficult conditions they have  encountered?

There is an apparent transformation in social work, which emphasizes the need for education and training in recognizing, supporting, and empowering trauma survivors, now referred to as Trauma-Informed Care.What does trauma-informed care look like? And ,do you have any trauma-informed care skills? Instead of solely focusing on problematic behavior, Trauma-Informed Practice enables frontline practitioners to recognize trauma, acknowledge its impact, and foster healthy coping skills; while actively helping prevent a recurrence. Being sensitive to a  child's traumatic experiences promotes trust and creates a conducive environment for treatment and healing.

Addressing past trauma helps frontline practitioners and social workers better serve and care for survivors.Traumatic experiences take many forms, ranging from violence, sexual assault, natural disasters, institutionalized oppression, and loss of family members.For this reason, Trauma-Informed Care cannot be accomplished using one technique; it requires constant evaluation, sensitivity, and attention.Here are some tips that will come in handy in your Trauma-Informed Care: Always prioritize creating a safe environment to help promote a sense of safety; both physically and psychologically Acknowledge and reinforce the patients' (child’s) strengths and resilience to help cultivate hope for recovery and change—instead of focusing on the diagnoses and intervention. Remember that these symptoms are merely coping mechanisms in response to trauma.

Create opportunities for trauma survivors to make a choice and set goals. Loss of control and predictability in traumatic events makes patients often feel a sense of powerlessness. Making a choice and setting goals helps them develop coping strategies and skills in self-advocacy, which come in handy out in the real worldTo maximize impact, you will need to constantly keep up to date with the latest theoretical perspectives in Trauma Informed practice. What are your thoughts on this? We would love to hear what you think. Also, share widely— remember sharing is caring 🙂