Credit hours:
2.50

Course Summary

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that can have negative, lasting effects on health and well-being. These experiences range from physical, emotional, or sexual abuse to parental divorce or the incarceration of a parent or guardian. Many foster children have experienced multiple traumatic events in their childhood. It’s imperative that foster parents and other child welfare stakeholders be informed about how trauma impacts the children and youth they care for.

In this course, you can expect to learn:

  • The connection between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and health outcomes

  • How responses to stress can impact child and adolescent development

  • Considerations for facilitating trauma-informed services

  • Perspectives from young people who have experienced trauma

  • How foster parents can provide trauma-informed support to children and youth

Step 1

Learn how childhood trauma unfolds across a lifetime from Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris in the video "How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across A Lifetime."

Step 2

Learn what trauma is, how young people respond to trauma, and how trauma-informed services benefit children and youth in foster care by reading the article "Trauma-Informed Practice with Young People in Foster Care."

Step 3

Review the JBS International article "Youth and Family Perspectives on Trauma-Informed Care" and learn how identifying trauma may help to overcome it.

Step 4

Review the Fostering Perspectives article "Trauma-Informed Parenting: What You Should Know" to learn valuable trauma informed parenting information. 

Step 5

Learn the impact of untreated trauma on children and young people, understand some of the behaviors exhibited in reaction to trauma, and explore practical tips to help children and youth overcome trauma in the article "Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma."

Step 6

Join the discussion in the comments below to answer the following question:

How might a parent manage discipline differently for a child who has experienced trauma? You are encouraged to share real-life examples, but please don't use any names in your story.

Step 7

Finished the module?  If you are logged in as a subscribed user, take the quiz to earn your Continuing Education Credit hours and certificate!

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Course Discussion

pjohnson's picture
2 years 9 months ago

pjohnson said:

Physical punishment is not always effective whether the child has been physically abused or not. Discipline has to be determined by the personality of the child. Taking a phone or toy away may be more effective.
joenangel's picture
2 years 9 months ago

joenangel said:

i had 3 teenagers at one time the boys would fight all the time so I had to keep them separated and grounf them the girl I would have to takeher phone away.
Joenangel14's picture
2 years 9 months ago

Joenangel14 said:

I had 3 teenagers at one time the boys were very mean to each other so I had to keep them separated and the girl just yelled a lot. The girl I took her cell phone away with the boys I had to ground them.
Joenangel14's picture
2 years 9 months ago

Joenangel14 said:

With my daughter I take her phone away depending on what she did.
LindsayMeyer's picture
2 years 10 months ago

LindsayMeyer said:

It is different based on each child's needs. I think discipline needs to start with prevention and then move into conversation. There is a place for discipline, but it must happen in the context of a relationship.
Tinymutt's picture
2 years 10 months ago

Tinymutt said:

I will know that his behavior is not intentional and I have to take in consideration the trauma he has endured.
PattiH's picture
2 years 11 months ago

PattiH said:

Depends on age but my group responds to loss of electronics
Cheferin84's picture
2 years 11 months ago

Cheferin84 said:

Our discipline has always been loss of privilege but with an explanation on why. We then discuss feelings. There is no yelling or anger.
Lori Kerchenfaut's picture
2 years 11 months ago

Lori Kerchenfaut said:

A parent can manage discipline differently for a child who has experienced trauma by differentiating the actions based on that child's previous reactions, triggers, and experiences. In this process, it is important to validate your child, and their emotions in order to successfully deescalate the situation, and find a solution.
Lmcelheny's picture
3 years 4 days ago

Lmcelheny said:

Acknowledge and validate feelings and emotions in order to help promote a safe environment to develop appropriate coping skills.