Creating a Safe & Supportive Environment for Children's Growth & Development - Essay Sample

Introduction

A safe and conducive environment is one of the vital components that play a central role in the growth and development process in a child's life. Children and adolescents are vulnerable groups that need protection from aspects that compromise the safety of their surroundings. Experts attribute many problems that individuals experience later in life to early and prolonged exposure to trauma. The term refers to experiences that are quite distressing and lead to psychological and emotional disturbance. Forms of trauma include physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, family violence, the loss of loved ones, and separation cause immense stress on children in the foster system ("Trauma-Informed Practice," 2019). Social service personnel who work under the Child Welfare System (CWS) play an essential role in promoting stability and wellness of this vulnerable population. As they deliver various services, they interact with others who have a history of trauma. Given the impact of initial removal from one's biological home and the triggering of re-traumatization caused by separation during foster care placement, it is essential to explore the value and place of trauma-informed care in reducing the effects of pre or post-trauma while in a foster care setting.

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The exposure of children and adolescents to traumatic incidents has far-reaching, long-term side effects. The events are often invasive and interpersonal. It is a problem that has existed in society for a long time, considering the high number of children who suffer from adverse outcomes associated with trauma. For instance, the 2012 Report of the Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence in the US states that 46 million bore the effects of traumatic occurrences (Klain & White, 2013). The high numbers provide a basis for emphasizing the need for various professionals and stakeholders in the CWS to advocate for and promote trauma-informed care and trauma-focused services. Besides violence, elements such as crime and abuse lead to psychological trauma. Exposure to multiple forms of stress-causing agents results in a condition known as complex trauma. In most cases, the perpetrators that put the young people in harm's way are those closest to them. They include their parents, siblings, relatives, as well as hired caregivers. Therefore, upon removal from their homes and placement in the CWS, the personnel ought to use trauma-informed care to promote individual wellbeing.

A Child's Initial Removal From a Biological Family Home

Conditions that necessitate social services personnel to take a child away from their biological family home are significant stressors. The family unit is one of the most crucial aspects of society that impacts the kind of childhood that one gets to experience. It is a significant influence that shapes and determines the child's present and future life. As a person transitions from one stage of growth to the next, having a stable family and conducive home setting is necessary. A biological family home is a unit marked by features such as a high level of interdependency among the children, parents, and other members. It symbolizes a source of protection from the harmful elements of the world and reliable platforms characterized by strong bonds. However, not all homes have this kind of environment. Some home setups do not offer vital support or safety that children need to lead a wholesome and fulfilling childhood. Instead, they pose a threat or cause harm to the young ones. In such cases, through the effort of various agencies, CWS intervenes and takes children away from their family homes with the sole aim of ensuring their safety and wellness.

There are extreme scenarios and incidents which occur in family homes that necessitate the involvement of professionals from the CWS. Having established that children and adolescents are vulnerable groups, social services personnel play a significant duty in monitoring situations that endanger their welfare. The workers' responsibilities include taking the initiative to prevent exposure to trauma in the family home. Often, a family's involvement with the CWS begins following an allegation of child maltreatment. Claims made against a specific home setting can include issues of abuse or neglect ("Chapter 5," 2012). Reports made to child protective services come from members of the community, parents, or the affected individuals. For example, a middle school teacher notices that one of the boys in the class is always silent and does not socialize with others. Upon closer observation, he learns that the pupil regularly comes to school with bodily injuries and scars. Interaction with the school's nurse reveals that the wounds are a result of the conflicts between his father and mother that escalate into physical fights. Due to attempts to shield his mother from harm, the boy sustains injuries. However, he does not report the abuse out of fear of losing his parents.

In response to the discovery of the reason behind the student's silence in class, the teacher takes the initiative and informs the local child protective services. The community service center allocates a social worker to take charge of the case and conduct the required investigation. The process begins by examining the victim of abuse, followed by observation of the family home setting. Interaction with the neighbors indicates that the father is an alcoholic who likes to stir disputes in the community and at home. Due to constant quarrels, the parents often fight in the presence of their child. On some days, the mother is absent from home when she works the night shift at a local plant. Thus, the boy remains under the care of the father or the neighbors. The final assessment by the social worker is that the child is best looked after in a foster home since the home environment is not conducive. Taking the boy away from an atmosphere that he is familiar with is a stressor despite the good intention behind the move("Chapter 5," 2012). However, it is necessary to remove him from the home setting since it is the available option that will create a conducive environment which will safeguard his welfare.

How Foster Care Placement Triggers Re-Traumatization

Placement in the foster care system is a necessary step in a situation where the findings of a case manager indicate that a child is at risk if they remain in their current environment. However, it also exposes children to some forms of trauma. The CWS has various procedures that guide the evaluation of the need to place an individual in shelter care. Through child welfare agencies and courts, determination of the urgency of handling a situation that compromises individual wellness takes place. Upon confirmation by a juvenile court action, social services personnel obtain the mandate to ensure that the perpetrators of traumatic experiences do not have contact with children ("Chapter 5," 2012). Implementing such an order requires them to shield the victims from specific persons. The process involves assigning the children to a particular shelter or responsible adult who can protect them and meet their needs. While the action is in the best interests of the child, it causes more trauma to them since it implies loss of touch with familiar people and the environment. Whereas they suffer emotional torture from living in a harsh atmosphere, the idea of getting separated from their home is equally worrisome. Thus, it causes psychological pain.

Continuous exposure to trauma has wide-ranging effects since it interferes with the normal developmental process. A biological family home setting characterized by repetitive encounters with traumatizing events leads to a long-lasting impact on the physical, social, and psychological wellness of the child ("Chapter 5," 2012). The available alternative in such situations is to remove the child from their home and place him under the CWS. The purpose of the shift is to provide a pleasant atmosphere that will allow the child to have childhood experiences that are not marred by traumatic events. For instance, the student identified in the stated case deserves relocation to a more stable environment that does not pose a danger to his safety. Having to witness or be caught up in the fights that erupt between the parents is traumatizing. However, these are his parents, and he has shared a significant part of his early years with them. Placing him in shelter care away from the family implies that he will not get to see them for long periods. Considering the role of the family bond and the value of time spent with one's family in shaping a child's life, the life at a foster care center is a substitute that will also cause trauma.

Children who benefit from services provided by CWS and social services providers have often undergone multiple traumatic events. By the time they enter the foster care system, they have experienced awful experiences that take a heavy toll on them mentally. Having to grow up in an abusive environment, which is devoid of trust and genuine happiness, subjects them to psychological stress (Nuckols, 2000). While shifting them to a safer environment is helpful, it comes with its set of traumatic implications due to the underlying transition. Groups that work towards rescuing young people from abusive environments direct their efforts toward addressing behavioral and emotional issues. However, they overlook crucial aspects such as the context of the precipitating trauma, trauma-exposure history, and reactions that led to the intervention (Greeson et al., 2011). Failure to account for these elements due to lack of comprehensive screening processes triggers traumatization. For instance, the trauma that arises due to abuse from a caregiver inhibits a child's will and ability to interact with and form secure attachments with other adults. Therefore, subjecting the adolescents in foster care to insensitive questions or environments arouses memory of past traumatic events. Besides, the unfamiliar care center setting causes an emotional burden as it also reminds them of what they are missing.

Trauma-Informed Care for Children and Adolescent in a Foster Care Setting

Trauma-informed care is a concept that refers to the adoption and utilization of practices that support the recovery process and stabilization by focusing on resolving the underlying causes and effects of traumatic events. The experiences of the victims take center stage as social services personnel strive to promote the wellbeing of children. Embracing the use of trauma-informed care can contribute to the reduction of effects of pre or post-trauma in a foster care setting. Individuals who have a long history of trauma and have experienced multiple injuries require caregiving relationships that are unique and make the affected persons feel safe ("Trauma-Informed Practice," 2019). There are policies that agencies and the CWS can adopt to ensure that comprehensive screening and assessment takes place for the personnel to identify the complex trauma-related issues. Based on the findings, they can implement trauma-informed practices. Putting in places measures that will guide the provision of trauma-oriented service delivery offers an opportunity at significantly enhancing child welfare outcomes ("Trauma-Informed Practice," 2019). By taking up this strategic approach to addressing challenges to long-term wellness, the child-serving system has the potential to reduce the impact of trauma among vulnerable groups.

Social services personnel who serve in foster homes need to adopt trauma-informed care practices that will help address the root causes of trauma and prepare the child for reintegration to a new society....