The approaches described in the fact sheets are interventions being implemented by centers within the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Please note that these interventions do not represent all relevant practices available for treating child traumatic stress. Where appropriate, sites searching for an intervention that is most relevant for their population(s) should consider additional interventions beyond those summarized here. In recognition of the diverse needs of the child and adolescent populations served by NCTSN sites across the country, the interventions and treatments listed below span a continuum of evidence-based interventions, ranging from rigorously evaluated interventions to promising practices and newly emerging practices. Readers should review and consider these practices based not only on their levels of evidence but also on their appropriateness for a given community and target population, training requirements, feasibility of adoption and implementation, and potential for sustainability. Readers are encouraged to gather additional information on adoption readiness through discussions with the treatment developers and other sites that are implementing the practices. The needs, values, and preferences of a provider's service population should also influence the type of intervention needed. Factors to consider include: - Prevalence of types of trauma and traumatic bereavement to which the population(s) is exposed
- Associated types and rates of mental distress and associated behavioral and functional impairment
- Cultural background(s) of the clientele and the surrounding community
- Developmental factors, including age, cognitive, and social domains
- Socioeconomic factors
- Logistical and other barriers to help-seeking
- Availability of individual/family/community strength-based resources
- Setting in which services are offered (school, residential, clinic, home)
Many existing trauma-focused interventions overlap in their content and approaches. These areas of overlap are termed "core components." Providers are encouraged to consider (1) whether and how specific interventions include desired intervention components, (2) how, if included, these components are carried out (e.g., specific skills-acquisition activities, homework, role-play, games), and (3) how well these components "fit" with the specific needs and preferences of the population the agency serves. For example, does the intervention emphasize acquiring the appropriate coping skills? If so, are the activities in which skills are acquired appropriate for the developmental level, cultural background, and geography of the population served? Interventions that do not include needed core components may be inappropriate for the population, or may at least require substantial adaptation in order to be considered appropriate. Examples of core components might include: - Risk screening and triage
- Systematic assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment planning
- Psycho-education
- Addressing children and families' traumatic stress reactions and experiences
- Trauma narration and organization
- Enhancing emotional regulation and anxiety management skills
- Facilitating adaptive coping and maintaining adaptive routines
- Parenting skills and behavior management
- Promoting adaptive developmental progression
- Addressing grief and loss
- Promoting safety skills
- Relapse prevention
- Evaluation of treatment response and effectiveness
- Engagement/addressing barriers to service-seeking
|
In order to view and print some of the materials provided, you will need Acrobat Reader 5.0. If it is not loaded in your computer or PDA, you can download it for free by visiting 
Order NCTSN DOCuments and other products where you see this icon—and have them delivered anywhere in the US. 
