Welcome Back 1 Getting to Know Each Other

Welcome Back! 1

Getting to Know Each Other (Group Activity) Are there any new folks? If so, who are we? • Are you a Parent, Kin Caregiver, Foster, Social Worker, Child Care Provider, Teacher, Attorney etc. ? • Kids & Ages (in your family, those you have a close relationship with or those you work with) 2

Tools from our Trauma Toolkit 3

Chapter 2: Introduction to Trauma Illustrations by Erich Ippen, Jr. Used with permission. 4

Large Group Activity How much do you know about trauma? 5

What is Trauma? § Trauma is a wound. § Some traumas, like wounds, heal relatively quickly, some heal slowly, and many influence life going forward, like scars. § Scars and trauma do not result in “being broken; ” rather they are markers of life experience one has survived. 6

Traumatic Event(s). . . § Threaten or violate one’s safety, health, and integrity § May be directly experienced or witnessed § May cause an overwhelming sense of shame, terror, helplessness, and intense physical effects § May be physical & emotional experiences 7

Types of Trauma • Acute trauma • Chronic trauma • Complex trauma • Neglect • Historical & Cultural trauma • Intergenerational trauma (Continued) 8

How Children May Respond to Trauma can interfere with development and affect a child’s: § Ability to trust others and have healthy relationships. § Sense of personal safety and the safety of others. § Ability to manage emotions, handle changes & stressful situations. § Ability to accurately read people’s faces, voices & body language. (Continued) 9

Angry or Scared? 10

How Children May Respond to Trauma (Continued) A child’s reactions to trauma will vary depending on: § § § Age, developmental stage & personality Perception of danger experienced Past trauma experiences Difficulties faced following the trauma Availability of adults who can offer help, reassurance, protection and safety (Continued) 11

How Children May Respond to Trauma – Traumatic Stress Reactions Hyperarousal: § § § Nervous Jumpy Fidgety Impulsive Giggly Distracted (Continued) 12

How Children May Respond to Trauma – Traumatic Stress Reactions Reexperiencing: § Repetitive thoughts, images, and feelings in the body § Nightmares § Flashbacks (Continued) 13

How Children May Respond to Trauma – Traumatic Stress Reactions Avoidance and withdrawal: § Feeling numb, frozen, shut down § Arguing § Creating chaos and confusion § Pulling away from activities and relationships § Avoiding things that remind them of the trauma 14

You May Also See: Traumatic Stress Reactions (Cont'd) § Problems concentrating, learning, playing with others or taking in new information § Difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep, nightmares § Frequent changes in emotion; moody, sad, or angry and aggressive, etc. § Age-inappropriate behaviors; reacting like a much younger child 15

You May Also See: Traumatic Stress Reactions (Cont'd) § Physical discomfort, such as headaches, backaches or stomachaches In adolescence you may see: § Substance use or abuse § Eating disorders § Self-harm behaviors 16

Recognizing Trauma (Supplemental Handout & Small Group Activity) § What kind of behaviors could be described as: § Manipulative § Lazy § Resistant § Disrespectful § Attention-seeking 17

Trauma Reminders/Triggers Could Be: § Sights, Smells & Tastes § Sounds § Emotions § Objects § Dates/Events § Situations § Places or People (Continued) 18

I don't think there was a time when I wasn't abused as a child. In order to survive the abuse, I made believe that the real me was separate from my body. That way, the abuse was happening not really to me, but just this skin I'm in. —C. M. My body betrayed me. Represent. Sept/Oct. 2003. Available at http: //www. youthcomm. org/FCYU-Features/Sept. Oct 2003/FCYU-2003 -09 -24. htm 19

What You Might See: Talking About Trauma § Talking about certain traumatic events all the time or avoiding the topic entirely § Bringing up the topic seemingly “out of the blue” § Being confused or mistaken about details § Remembering only fragments of what happened 20

What You Might See: Traumatic Play When playing, young children who have been through traumatic events may: § Repeat all or part of the traumatic event § Take on the role of the abuser § Try out different outcomes § Get “stuck” on a particular moment or event (Continued) 21

Traumatic Play (Continued) When should I seek help for my child or a child I am supporting? Seek help when: § Play affects their emotions in a negative way § Play affects relationships with other children or adults 22

What about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for Children? Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is diagnosed when: § A person displays severe traumatic stress reactions, § The reactions persist for a long period of time, and § The reactions get in the way of living a normal life. 23

Let’s take a break! 24

Maya & Javier Small Group Activity § Choose a small group to join; the groups will either focus on 8 -month-old Maya or 15 -year-old Javier § Take your workshop materials with you § Choose three volunteers in your group to: 1. Read the case story out loud to the small group 2. Write responses on the flip chart paper 3. Report out to the large group § Turn to slide 26 for Maya and 28 for Javier to begin connecting traumatic stress experiences to behaviors after reading through their stories 25

Summary of Maya’s Story (Large Group) § Maya was taken into care after her 17 -year-old mother brought her to the ER unconscious, with broken arms and bruises. § Maya and her mother Angela had been living with her mother’s abusive boyfriend. § For a brief time recently, Angela and Maya had lived in a shelter for victims of domestic violence. § Angela claimed Maya was hurt while in the shelter. 26

Maya’s Behaviors (Large Group Activity) § Wakes up crying in the middle of the night § Easily startled by loud noises § Squirms away from being held § Doesn’t make eye contact § Screams when taken on medical visits 27

Summary of Javier’s Story (Large Group) § Grew up seeing his parents battle § Would try to divert his parents by making jokes § Mother refuses to leave father § Taken into care after he tried to intervene during a fight and was badly beaten by his father 28

Javier’s Behaviors (Group Activity) § Not interested in school, jokes around in class § Frequently skips school to smoke and drink with friends in a nearby park § Has sudden outbursts of violence: recently beat up a boy he saw pushing a girl 29

Traumatic Life Experiences & Behaviors (“My Somebody” Worksheet – Parts 1 & 2) § What are “My Somebody’s” traumatic life experiences? § What are my “My Somebody’s” behaviors? 30

"Grow through what you go through" 31

Recovering from Trauma: The Role of Resilience § Resilience is the ability to roll with the punches. When stress, adversity or trauma strikes, you still experience anger, grief and pain, but you're able to keep functioning — both physically and psychologically. § However, resilience isn't about toughing it out, being stoic or going it alone. In fact, being able to reach out to others for support is a key component of being resilient. 32

Growing Resilience in Yourself To grow resilience in yourself you can: • Build strong, positive relationships • Do something that gives you a sense of accomplishment and purpose every day. • Think of how you've coped with hardships in the past. • You can't change the past, but you can always look toward the future. • Figure out what needs to be done, make a plan, and take action. 33

Growing Resilience in a Child To grow resilience you can: § Help a child build a strong relationship with at least one caring adult. § § Connect a child to a positive role model/mentor. Nurture their talents/abilities. Give children some control over their own lives. Help a child feel a sense of belonging to a community, group, or cause larger than themselves. 34

Recognizing Resilience: Maya § Maya’s Aunt Jenna has discovered that Maya is most comfortable taking her bottle if it is propped up so that she can hold it herself. § After Jenna began playing a particularly soothing piece of classical music every time she fed Maya, Maya began to calm down when she heard the music. § One evening, Jenna began to hum the tune as she gave Maya her bottle, and Maya made eye contact with her. 35

Recognizing Resilience: Maya § Able to express her needs through crying. She has not given up § Able to take comfort from her bottle § Responds positively to music and has learned she can rely on it § Beginning to trust and enjoy being with her aunt 36

Recognizing Resilience: Javier § Attached to and loyal to his mother § Talented as an entertainer, jokester § Has formed friendships with his peers § Has a sense of justice and wants to make things right in the world § Has empathy for others, particularly women in jeopardy 37

Growing Resilience (“My Somebody” Worksheet – Part 3 & 4) § What strengths, talents or interests can you acknowledge? § How might you give your child the experience of being accepted? § Where might you give your child more choices? § What community-based activities could your child participate in? 38

Thank You! See you for Chapter 3! 39