The Klingberg Traumatic Stress Institute and the Foster Care Department launched an exciting new training intiative entitled: Trauma Informed Foster Care- Why are These Kids Doing These Crazy Things and How Can I Help Them while Preserving My Sanity? This is a six session monthly training program based on the Risking Connection (copy write, Sidran) curriculum and the Restorative Approach (copy write, Klingberg). It includes modules covering:
- Trauma and Healing
How do people change?
Understanding the effect of trauma and how children can heal
The relationship is the heart of change
What about us? Our part of the relationship and vicarious traumatization - Why Do These Kids Do These Crazy Things?
How can we understand the behavior we see?
What does that mean to us? How does this help me know what to do next?
Shame, taking responsibility and our kids
Understanding our own adaptive behaviors - The Legacy of Trauma
The kids expect to be hurt- how can I create a new pattern?
What is it like to never feel safe?
How can I help my child with his biology?
Kids who don’t know how to notice and survive their feelings
How can I model and teach feelings skills?
Where do I get the stamina for all this? - So What Should I Actually Do Day-to-Day?
Children act better when they feel better
Behavior guidelines for every day life and in times of crisis
Restorative tasks- learning and making amends
Emphasizing the relationship
What about my feelings? - Promoting Healthy Sexuality and Responding to Problem Sexual Behaviors
How can we help these children develop a healthy sexual life?
How do we understand problem sexual behaviors, and how can we help the child find other ways to meet their needs?
Increasing my comfort with human sexuality - Taking Care of Ourselves While Doing this Difficult Work
Vicarious traumatization
Our feelings in the work
The effects on our biological family
Transforming the pain
What can I do to stay energized and hopeful?
The feed back from the first module included:
“eloquently addressed so I could understand it.”
“very informative and made easy to relate to”
“facilitator was very knowledgeable and presented material well”
“very relevant”
We are excited about offering these new tools to our dedicated and caring foster parents.
