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Trauma Informed Practice. Johnson County Bench Bar Conference April 3, 2019 Kay McCarthy. What we will cover. Our Parent’s Response to Trauma. Here's a dime kid...go call someone who cares. Stop crying before I give you something to cry about! You're not made of sugar, you won't melt.
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Trauma Informed Practice Johnson County Bench Bar Conference April 3, 2019 Kay McCarthy
Our Parent’s Response to Trauma • Here's a dime kid...go call someone who cares. • Stop crying before I give you something to cry about! • You're not made of sugar, you won't melt. • You'll live. • You brought this on yourself. • I suppose you think you are special, Lady Jane. • Get up, you’re not hurt • Rub some dirt on it
What is Trauma • Event: An event, series of events, or set of circumstances • Experienced: By an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and • Effect: That have lasting adverse effects on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being
What Can We Do? Understand trauma and the impacts of it Do not cause more trauma Prepare initially and throughout case
Plan Early • Physical Space • Body Language • Explain in Advance • Offer Breaks • Self Soothing • Note Taking • Court Tours • Other Support • Emotional Needs • Safety Planning
Challenges to Representation • Avoid Harsh Interactions • Difficulty Listening (Both sides) • What Happened to You • Reacting to their Aggression
Watch your interactions for: Avoid Model Kindness Respect Patience Reassurance Acceptance • Humiliating • Harsh • Impersonal • Disrespectful • Critical • Demanding • Judgmental
Difficulty Listening and Following Story Use Active Listening
KNOW YOUR PERSONAL BIASES • Personal Baggage • Race • Ethnicity • Religion • Economics • Children
ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES • Abuse-physical, emotional, social • Neglect-physical or emotional • Mental illness • Violence • Incarceration • Substance abuse • Divorce
Frequency of Child Trauma • 2/3 of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16 • There are 9.1 victims of child abuse and neglect per 1,000 children • Children receiving hospital treatment for assault injuries fills 9 stadiums annually • 1 in 4 high school students have been in a physical fight • 1 in 6 high school students have experienced cyberbullying
Impact on You and Your Staff Burnout Frustration and Anger Vicarious Trauma
What Can You Do? • Regular staff meetings • Take suggestions • Use new ideas • Show gratitude • Therapy • Professional associations • Resiliency groups • Turn off the phone