Applying trauma theory to agency practice

Abstract

In this chapter, the goals of achieving safety, permanency, and well-being for traumatized children are aligned with the child welfare services of child protection (CPS), preventive services, foster care, and adoption. CPS is viewed as the main vehicle for assuring child physical safety, while psychological safety is conceptualized as an additional major role for preventive and foster care services. Both preventive and foster care services are also critical in establishing permanency, and the importance of these services in assuring that traumatized children, families, and foster care givers are engaged in trauma-informed or evidence-based trauma treatment is essential. Adoption and postadoption services can consolidate child well-being begun in earlier phases of safety and permanency.