Working with resource parents for trauma-informed foster care

Abstract

Child welfare and mental health trainers are often at a loss for trauma-informed resources to enhance the knowledge, attitudes, and skills of resource parents. This chapter is designed to provide an understanding of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network product called Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma: A Workshop for Resource Parents (Grillo & Lott D, Caring for children who have experienced trauma: A workshop for resource parents-participant handbook, 2010) and how it supports the concept of trauma-informed parenting. The chapter outlines the curriculum goals, description, program components, current level of evidence, challenges to implementation, and fit to culture within child welfare supporting the overall goals. On the surface, the content of this curriculum seems similar to materials often found in child welfare pre-service trainings for resource parents, but in reality, it fills a tremendous gap in training resources available to foster a better understanding of how trauma impacts child behaviors and how parents and caregivers might effectively advocate for trauma-informed services.