Summary
Children within the foster care system have often endured complex trauma and exhibit post-traumatic stress responses that can lead to placement instability and adverse outcomes. Trauma responses can be exacerbated by a lack of caregiver and social support following children’s traumatic experiences. Children in foster care are likely to experience more positive outcomes overall if they receive trauma treatment with the involvement of supportive caregivers. There are often multiple service providers involved in the life of a child in foster care. Additionally, there are multiple systems involved in the oversight of the child’s permanency plan. Clinicians must work collaboratively with those involved in the child welfare system of care to provide services that ensure the child’s safety and well-being. This presentation will offer practical approaches to navigating systems in order to provide a consistent continuum of care for children involved in the foster care system. Participants who attend this presentation will (a) gain knowledge regarding strategies for successful collaboration between all treatment providers, child welfare interventionists, school personnel, and other stakeholders involved and identify how this can enhance treatment outcomes for children in foster care, (b) be able to recognize how interdisciplinary collaboration can improve their ability to identify appropriate caregivers and other supports for the child during their treatment process, as well as how this can benefit the child in their healing, (c) gain strategies for navigating the family court and child welfare system to ensure treatment accessibility for children receiving child welfare intervention, and (d) gain skill in implementing their ethical responsibility to serve in the role as an advocate to reduce barriers to treatment growth.