Therapeutic Interventions for Families and Children in the Child Welfare System (eBook)

Part One: The Child Welfare System

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Child Welfare System

Child Maltreatment

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Neglect

Ramifications of Child Maltreatment

How Children Enter the Foster Care System

Initial Abuse/Neglect Report

Initial Placement

The State and Court Systems

Child Welfare Agencies

Foster Care Case Management

Mental Health Treatment

Adoption

Residential Treatment

Supervised/Independent Living

References

Part Two: The Client World View

Chapter 2: The Child Perspective

Placement

First removal

Multiple Losses

Guilt, Blame and Shame

Pervasive Fearfulness

Treatment Issues Related to Placement

Adjusting to Child Welfare System

Educational Adjustment

Foster Care Placement Instability

Consequences of Placement Instability

Constant Sense of Danger

Long Term Foster Care

Relationships

Cultural Values

References

Chapter 3: The Adult Perspective

Treatment Issues Unique to Birth Parents

Issues that Led to Removal

Ambiguous Loss/Grief

Loss of Parental Control

Strengths

Treatment Issues Unique to Foster and Adoptive Parents

Attachment and Loss

Vicarious Trauma

Lack of Support and Training

Loss of Parental Control

Unrealistic Expectations

Foster Parent Strengths

Conclusion

References

Part Three: Therapeutic Interventions

Chapter 4: Beginning Therapy

The Challenge of Building Rapport

How to Build Rapport

Nonverbal Communication.

Simple Interactions

Explanations of Therapy and Confidentiality

Parent Involvement

Rapport as a Perpetual Goal

Tips for Building Rapport by Age Group

Children ages 3-11

Adolescents/Young Adults

Addressing Common Barriers to Treatment

Continuous Crises

Negative View of Therapy

Unrealistic Outcomes

Handling Resistance

Reframe Resistance

Balance Control & Safety

Be a Therapist

References

Chapter 5: Assessment

How to Approach Assessment in Child Welfare

Assessment as an Intervention Process

Merging of Multiple Viewpoints

Assessment: Strengths and Concerns

Step 1: Identify Strengths

Step 2: Identify Presenting Concerns

Safety Concerns

Current Environmental & Relational Concerns

Development Concerns

Abuse and Neglect Concerns

Attachment Concerns

Grief & Loss Concerns

Trauma Concerns

Addiction Concerns

Conclusion

References

Chapter 6: Diagnosis, Medication & Child Welfare

Diagnosis

Common Diagnoses

Accurate Diagnosing

Medication

Overcoming Barriers to Accurate Diagnosing

References

Chapter 7: Treating Attachment

Attachment Theory

How Attachment Impacts Development

Attachment and Cognitive/Social Skill Development

Assessment

Insecure Attachment Behaviors

Treating Attachment Disorders

Attend to Attachment Concerns

Play Therapy

Ego Strength Development

Creating New Attachment Patterns

Restructuring the Attachment System

Transitional Objects

Building Quality Relationships with Unattached Children

Conclusion

References

Chapter 8: Treatment for Loss and Transitions

Treating Childhood Grief in Foster Care

Facilitate the Expression of Grief: Witness and Validate

Provide Psychoeducation about Grief and Child Welfare

Engage in Mourning Rituals

Collaboration and Intervention through Transitions

Initial Removal

Replacements

Reunification

Termination of Parental Rights

Adoption

Transition to Adulthood and Aging Out of the System

Ending the Therapeutic Relationship

References

Chapter 9: Treating Trauma

Neurobiological Implications

Wired to Survive

Senses versus Sense

Traumatic Abuse, Neglect & Loss

Traumatic Losses

Sexual Abuse

Physical Abuse and Domestic Violence

Neglect

Treating Trauma Reactions

Start with the Therapeutic Relationship and Space

Family and Systemic Engagement

Psychoeducation

Bad Storms

Scary Movies

Upstairs and Downstairs Brain

Creating a Trauma Narrative

Lowering Arousal

Addressing Re-Experiencing

Replacing Avoidance

Changing the Victim Mindset

Conclusion

Resources

References

Chapter 10: Behavior Modification & Social Skills

Negative Attention Seeking Behavior

Brief Behavior Theory Review

Classical Conditioning

Classical Conditioning Treatment Steps

Operant Conditioning

Behavior Elimination

Addressing Behavior Problems

Behavior Modification Charts

Behavior Modification Examples

Example 1: Daily Chart (Ratio)

Example 2: Broad Behavior Chart

Example 3: Shaping Behavior Chart (interval)

Example 4: Creative/Paradoxical Interventions

Group Therapy for Social Skills & Anger Management

Social Skills

Anger Management Groups

References

Part Four: Working with Adults in Child Welfare

Chapter 11: Engaging Families in Treatment

Birth Parents

A Family Focused Approach

Engagement Techniques

Assessment

Building Empathy

Denouncing Self As Expert

Building on Child and Parent Strengths

Maintaining Dignity

Family Therapy

Family Therapy Resources

Foster & Adoptive Parents

Assessment

Overcoming Barriers

References

Chapter 12: Collaborating with Professionals

Effectively Approaching Collaboration

Ethical Issues

Court Reports and Testimony

Mandated Reporting

Opportunities for Collaboration

Child Welfare Staff

Other Mental Health Providers

Medical Professionals

Legal Professionals

Educational Professionals

Conclusion

Resources for Collaborating with Professionals

References

Chapter 13: Burnout, Countertransference, Ethics and Wellness

Countertransference

Burnout

Ethics

Boundaries & Confidentiality

Mandated Reporting

Coping Strategies

Wellness

References