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Child Welfare Professionals

In any given year, approximately one million children come to the attention of the US child welfare system. Many are victims of abuse or neglect, live with caregivers who are impaired, and/or deal with school and community violence as a fact of life. Identification and early intervention are crucial to helping children traumatized by maltreatment and other stresses. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed tools and materials for building skills and increasing knowledge about childhood trauma to help child welfare administrators, caseworkers, frontline staff, mental health personnel, and caregivers understand and respond to the needs of traumatized children. In addition to the NCTSN resources highlighted below, Child Welfare Professionals can learn more about creating trauma-informed Child Welfare Systems in the Trauma-Informed Care section of this website.

Partner-In Resource

Trauma ScreenTIME

Type: Website

Provides staff in child-serving systems with best practices for trauma screening. The courses will help staff develop a plan for implementing a screening process in their setting, identify and support children suffering from traumatic stress as early as possible, and connect those in need with effective services.

Partner-In Resource

A Guide for Mental Health Agencies

Type: Resource Guide

Assists mental health agencies with navigating and understanding The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC) website.

Partner-In Resource

Easing Foster Care Placement Practice Brief

Type: Fact Sheet

Focuses on addressing secondary traumatic stress experienced by child welfare staff, easing children’s transitions into foster care, and working with parents who have been impacted by trauma.

Partner-In Resource

Trauma Parenting Practice Brief

Type: Fact Sheet

Focuses on addressing secondary traumatic stress experienced by child welfare staff, easing children’s transitions into foster care, and working with parents who have been impacted by trauma.

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