Bringing the CARE Framework to Life: Applying the Trauma-Informed Principle

Bringing the CARE Framework to Life: Applying the Trauma-Informed Principle

Trauma can leave lasting scars but, with the right approach, healing from these scars is possible. The CARE framework provides a compassionate, trauma-informed approach to create those nurturing environments where children feel safe. Below are some ways we can bring the trauma-informed principle to life.

How you can apply the Trauma-Informed Principle

1. Build strong relationships

For kids in foster care, trust is everything. Trauma can make it hard for them to feel safe with others, so building relationships takes patience and consistency. The CARE framework encourages:

• creating routines to help kids feel secure and bring stability and consistency,
• using calm, kind communication to show understanding,
• being present in moments and showing genuine attention and care,
• letting kids know they’re valued, no matter what.

Over time, these actions help kids feel safe enough to open up and begin healing.

2. Respond to pain-based behaviours with compassion

When kids act out, it’s often their way of saying, “I’m hurting” or “I’m scared”. A trauma-informed approach asks, “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?” The CARE framework offers strategies like:

• staying calm, even when behaviours are challenging,
• using techniques to de-escalate tense situations,
• helping kids name and understand their feelings,
• offering choices to give them a sense of control.

By addressing the underlying needs of the behaviour with compassion and empathy, we help children feel understood and supported.

3. Prioritise safety – inside and out

Safety isn’t just about physical protection; it can be about emotional security, too. Kids need to know they’re accepted and valued just as they are.

Foster carers can:

• avoid shaming or punishing kids for their emotions,
• create spaces where kids feel free to express themselves,
• watch for triggers that might bring up painful memories and help kids navigate them.

By focusing on safety, carers can help kids feel grounded and secure.

4. Foster resilience and growth

The CARE framework highlights the importance of building a child’s confidence and resilience.

Foster carers can:

• celebrate even the smallest of victories,
• encourage a child to try new things, whether it’s a hobby or a school activity,
• teach coping skills and ways to manage stress,
• show a child that mistakes are part of learning and growth.

When kids start to see themselves as capable and strong, it’s a game-changer.

Supporting Carers Along the Way

It is important to remember that foster carers also need support. Training in trauma-informed care and the CARE framework gives carers the tools to handle tough situations and build meaningful connections with the kids they care for. Topics like understanding trauma, managing pain-based behaviours and practicing self-care are crucial.

Carers also benefit from having a strong network around them. This can include caseworkers, therapists and other carers so they don’t have to navigate the challenges of fostering alone.

Why a CARE-Informed Approach Matters

When we take a trauma-informed and CARE-focused approach, amazing things can happen.

• Kids feel safe, supported and understood. Over time, they start to heal and build healthier relationships.
• Carers gain confidence in managing behaviours and building connections, leading to less stress and more rewarding experiences.
• Agencies see better outcomes, like more stable placements and happier, healthier kids.

Wrapping It Up

Being trauma-informed in foster care, especially through the lens of the CARE framework, is all about creating environments where kids feel safe, valued and supported. It’s about seeing beyond the pain-based behaviours to the hurt underneath and responding with empathy and understanding. Most importantly, it’s about helping kids not just survive but thrive.