Psychosocial Support

The best form of psychosocial support is a healthy family and supportive environment, preferably in the child's community of origin, or one that is culturally similar. Psychosocial well-being is a product of multiple support, which is rooted in the ability to form healthy relationships and participate in community networks.

However, certain considerations may be required in order to help children and caretakers come to terms with life-changing events, such as the loss of a parent. Separation can be highly stressful for children, particularly if it is unexpected, or repeated. Some children may experience anxiety, attachment problems, sleep disturbances, dependency issues, regression, and a range of other behavioural issues which threaten their mental health and development.

Specific types of support may be required for children suffering from loss, severe or chronic ill health, abuse or exploitation. The child’s experience, age, resilience, and the level of support received from the family and community will determine if a child needs external services. A child is far less likely to experience psychosocial stress if they have good natural support mechanisms and therefore protection efforts should focus on supporting families and communities to help each other.

When psychosocial support is needed, an assessment is important in determining the scope and type of issues, the existing family and community resources, and analysis of how these can be strengthened. Clinical mental health interventions such as therapy, psychiatry or psychological counseling, should only be provided by trained professionals after a clinical assessment and, in all cases, should be culturally relevant.

Psychosocial activities must promote the children’s development and their relationships with others, re-establish routines, increase self confidence and sense of control over their lives. Children’s activities, such as the provision of safe places, group work or referrals to specialists, should be designed around the child’s individual needs, age, gender, and cultural identity. Interventions should be empowering, inclusive, and fully integrated with wider community efforts. Children’s participation is essential in psychosocial work; children should be encouraged to express their opinions, and to have these taken into account.

The literature found here describes the psychosocial effects of separation, and other threats to children such as HIV/AIDS, conflict, abuse and exploitation, and provides guidance and examples of psychosocial interventions.

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Basic education assistance module as a material and psychosocial support intervention for orphans and vulnerable children in Gutu District, Zimbabwe. An evaluation

John Ringson - New Ideas in Psychology, 09 Jun 2020

This article is a qualitative phenomenological study seeking to examine the perceptions, views and feelings of the orphans and vulnerable children (OVC), care-givers and community leaders on their experiences with Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) as a material and psychosocial support intervention in Zimbabwe.

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The costs of implementing and sustaining a trauma and mental health screening tool in a state child welfare system

Rebecca L. Butcher, M. Kay Jankowski, Eric D. Slade - Children and Youth Services Review, 21 Apr 2020

A cost analysis was conducted as part of a 5-year, federally funded statewide demonstration project to install universal trauma screening in one U.S. state’s child welfare system.

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Mental Health Management Among Older Youth in Foster Care: Service Utilization and Preparedness

Michelle R. Munson, Colleen C. Katz, Nathanael J. Okpych, Mark E. Courtney - Journal of Adolescent Health, 18 Apr 2020

The aim of the study was to document mental health service use (counseling and medication) among youth in foster care, examine how prepared they feel to manage their mental health, and investigate predictors of service use and preparedness.

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Mental health services receipt among caregivers in the child welfare system: A longitudinal analysis

Tyrone C. Cheng & Celia C. Lo - Children and Youth Services Review, 03 Apr 2020

This study intended to identify factors associated with receipt of mental health services by caregivers substantiated for maltreatment.

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A quasi-experimental, multicenter study of acceptance and commitment therapy for antisocial youth in residential care

Fredrik Livheim, Anders Tengström, Gerhard Andersson, JoAnne Dahl, Caroline Björck, Ingvar Rosendahl - Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 31 Mar 2020

The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of a brief trans diagnostic Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) group intervention for youth with comorbid problems in residential care.

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“Fostering” Effective Foster Parent Training Programs: Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adaptations for the Child Welfare Setting

Robin C. Han, Christopher K. Owen, Corey C. Lieneman, Cheryl B. McNeil - The Open Family Studies Journal, 20 Mar 2020

Preliminary findings from studies using abbreviated formats of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) suggest effectiveness of such adaptations in reducing externalizing behavior in foster children and maintaining behavioral improvements several months after the end of the treatment.

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What do young people who self‐harm find helpful? A comparative study of young people with and without experience of being looked after in care

Josephine Holland, Kapil Sayal, Alexandra Berry, Chelsea Sawyer, Pallab Majumder, Panos Vostanis, Marie Armstrong, Caroline Harroe, David Clarke, Ellen Townsend - Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 20 Mar 2020

For this study, one hundred and twenty‐six 11–21 year olds (53 who had experience of the care system and 73 who did not) were recruited from the community and NHS. All participants had self‐harmed in the past 6 months. Participants completed an Audio Computer‐Assisted Self‐interview (ACASI) regarding their views about the support they had received, how helpful it was, and what further help they felt they needed.

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Psychotherapy for child welfare cases: Clinicians' and parents' perspectives

Hana Yoo, Stefana Racorean, Victoria Barrows - Child & Family Social Work, 17 Mar 2020

The current study seeks to explore clinicians' and parents' perspectives regarding the role of psychotherapy services (e.g. individual or conjoint counselling/therapy) for child welfare cases.

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Investigating psychosocial problems of orphan children in primary schools

Solomon Kassie Alem - Journal of Pedagogical Research, 12 Mar 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial problems of orphan children in public primary schools in Ethiopia.

Receipt of substance-use services by caregivers involved in the child-welfare system

Tyrone C. Cheng & Celia C. Lo - Children and Youth Services Review, 11 Mar 2020

The present study of children’s caregivers involved in child welfare examined the factors associated with their receiving services for substance use.

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