Creating Trauma-Informed Systems of Child Welfare

Abstract

This is the third issue in a series focusing on trauma and child welfare. This issue addresses systems-level changes that can help improve communication and service delivery and ultimately reduce trauma for children. The pool of literature pertaining to trauma-related systems change is limited. However, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has identified several Essential Elements of Trauma-Informed Child Welfare Practice (http://www.nctsnet.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/CWT3_SHO_EEs.pdf). To better understand how child welfare systems are incorporating these elements into their work, representatives from three different geographical areas were interviewed for this issue. Respondents represent different areas of expertise and utilize different lenses from which they view the child welfare system. Respondents were chosen because of their perspectives about what trauma-informed child welfare looks like as well as their knowledge of specific practices related to assessment, reducing traumatic symptoms, coordination of services, and public policy. This issue illustrates how child welfare systems are changing to better meet the trauma needs of children, with specific attention to policies and practices in Minnesota