A Trauma-Informed Approach to Court

As a result of a 2015 federal review of child welfare practices in North Carolina, the North Carolina Administrative Offices of Court and other judicial partners engaged local court and local social services offices to address issues of children receiving permanency. District Permanency Collaboratives were established as a result of the federal a review of child welfare practices.  The collaboratives in each North Carolina judicial district were charged to hold quarterly meetings to include local judges, attorneys, Guardian ad Litem and child welfare leaders in order to increase safe and timely permanent exits from foster care.

As a result of the District Permanency Collaborative in district 15A (Alamance County), a trauma informed best practice was created. The document titled “Responding to Children’s Mental Health Needs”, shares expectations for professionals working with children who will be impacted through the juvenile court process. The guidelines delineate roles and responsibilities of anyone involved with the child prior to court, during court and after court.

By implementing this trauma informed practice, the child’s therapist is able to determine what therapeutic supports need to be in place and provides time to create a crisis plan prior to the court date. In the event the child will testify in court, the  therapist and DSS attorney should spend time acclimating the child to the courtroom and reviewing court procedures in a trauma-informed approach.  After court, a therapist or social worker should follow up with the child and answer any questions. This trauma-informed plan is designed to care for children’s mental health needs and aims to reduce additional trauma. This is a great example of how District 15A in North Carolina has worked collaboratively to implement trauma-informed practices that will have lasting impacts on our most vulnerable children. Let this be a reminder to us all that trauma informed work should be a priority to every child serving system and is feasible when we work together.