What Does It Mean to Be Trauma-Informed in Foster Care?
Foster care is all about providing a safe and loving environment for kids who can’t live with their biological families. The reality is, that many of these children have gone through some tough experiences. Trauma – whether it’s neglect, abuse, exposure to violence or losing their family – can leave a lasting impact. That’s why understanding and practising trauma-informed care is essential for foster carers, caseworkers and everyone involved in the care team.
What does it mean to be trauma-informed?
Being trauma-informed isn’t just about acknowledging trauma exists. It’s about:
- Recognising the impact of trauma – understanding how adverse experiences can shape a child’s behaviour, emotions and relationships.
- Responding with empathy and understanding – adapting our interactions and responses to meet the unique needs of a child who has experienced trauma.
- Creating healing environments – building spaces where children feel safe, valued and empowered to thrive.
This approach aligns perfectly with the CARE: Creating Conditions for Change framework by Martha Holden, which focuses on building supportive, trauma-sensitive environments. Let’s break it down and explore what being trauma-informed means in the world of foster care.
The goal is to provide the child with an environment in which they can thrive. When foster carers and professionals adopt a trauma-informed approach, they create environments where children can heal from past experiences, learn new skills that allow them to handle their emotions and triggers, and develop the confidence to move forward in life. It’s about making every moment matter, turning everyday interactions into opportunities for connection, learning and growth. Together, through frameworks like CARE, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of the children and young people we support.
Understanding trauma and its impact
Trauma can feel overwhelming for anyone. But for kids, it’s especially tough. It might come from abuse, neglect, witnessing violence or the heartbreak of being separated from their family. Kids entering foster care often carry this weight with them, and it can show up in different ways, like:
- Struggling to trust adults or build relationships.
- Always being on edge, like they’re waiting for something bad to happen.
- Displaying pain-based behaviours, like acting out or shutting down.
- Finding it hard to manage their emotions.
- Having trouble learning or staying focused in school.
Understanding behaviour through a trauma-informed lens
“We need to shift our thinking from ‘What is wrong with you?’ to ‘What happened to you?’” – Sandra Bloom
The key takeaway is that these behaviours aren’t about being “difficult” or defiant. They’re a way for kids to cope with what they’ve been through. The CARE framework helps us see past the surface (behaviours) and understand the underlying need (feelings) driving the pain-based behaviour so we can create a supportive environment that meets their needs. We need to remember that children are handling trauma the best they can and, as adults, we need to be the source of strength and support. As members of the CARE team, we need to offer unconditional stability, understanding and support. This is how we provide a safe and nurturing environment. By providing this stability and consistency, we help children and young people to rebuild trust, develop healthy and safe relationships, discover their inner resiliency, make choices and have control over their lives.
Trauma may leave its mark but, with the right support, children can begin to heal, learn and thrive. Every moment of care matters in helping them to find their way forward. We never know which moment will make a significant impact, so we need to ensure all moments make a positive impact.
Together in care, we can ensure that every child has a great day, every day.
If you’d like to learn more about the CARE Framework, and how it can help you form stronger relationships with the young people in your life, download our resources or check out our upcoming training sessions. You can also contact our Foster Care team for more information.
References:
Holden M.J et al. (2020) Therapeutic Crisis Intervention 7th Edition, Residential Childcare Project, Cornell University
Holden, Martha J, 2023, CARE: Creating Conditions for Change Edition 3, Residential Child Care Project Cornell University Family Life Development Centre Ithaca NY Child Welfare League of America.
