Tips for Helping Emergency Care Children Adjust to Protective Custody Trauma

“Trauma is an experience of losing control.” (Dr. Joshua D. Sparrow)

Over 3.4 million children in USA were placed into some form of Protective Custody in 2012.

Children Often Express Emotions to Protective Custody Experiences in Emotions and Behaviors:

  1. Easily agitated
  2. Hyper vigilant to new surroundings
  3. Anxious and/or fearful
  4. Overreaction to new environment (strangers, noises, family pets)
  5. Withdrawn (uncommunicative, sullen)
  6. Appear as dazed or fatigued (prolonged sleep observed following care placement)
  7. Angry- defiant towards adults including care providers and other Child Welfare Team members

Emergency Foster Children May Have Questions:

  1. What did I do wrong?
  2. Why are my parents in jail?
  3. Why am I here? How long will I be here? Why can’t I go home?

Simple Steps Care Providers can take to Reduce Anxiety and Help Children Reestablish Control:

  1. Show that that your emergency care home is safe and organized (provide a tour of house living space)
  2. Show that care home is child – friendly (toys, electronic games, television, child books)
  3. Show that new children will have some “personal space” to reorganize thoughts and emotions
  4. Show that new children are not isolated from family via approved phone contacts and face-to face visits with birth family
  5. Show new children that the care home structure is easy – to – follow via simple house rules based on standards

Answer Child Questions that Provide Information and Adult Reassurance:

  1. “You didn’t do anything wrong, but your parents may need some resources to get better.”
  2. “We will talk to your social worker about your questions when she visits — or you can talk to her on the phone.”
  3. “You will be safe and cared for while you are here. Things will get better.”

Look and Listen:

  1. Over time new children will reorganize their experiences and emotions about Protective Custody, prior home life and adjustment to the emergency care home
  2. Note extreme reactions by children to the social worker, mental health worker)
  3. Report your observations regarding how the children adjust to care home schedules and activities to Child Welfare Team Members