Overview
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that arise during childhood. ACEs are prevalent among foster children and could lead to poor health outcomes as well as negatively impact vital life opportunities. ACEs are a prevalent issue for foster children so there is a demand for extra support and access to services in this community. For instance, 42% of the individuals in the children welfare system studied experienced four or more ACEs and 27% experienced three ACEs which is considerably more than children in the general population at 12.5% (Freeman, 2014). To address the needs for those in the Florida Child Welfare System residing in Alachua County with at least one ACE and in the process of placement into a new foster home, a program will be created in which they will receive mental health and social support. ACEs have the potential to repeat cyclically through generations therefore this program will also support foster parents with the understanding and coping of any ACEs/trauma that occurred in their past. Overall, this program aims to prevent additional ACEs, heal past trauma, and promote a healthy home environment.
The grant provides monthly home visits with a social worker, psychologist and/or a psychiatrist. Furthermore, not only will the children receive additional ACE/trauma screenings so will the foster parents so that they are able to understand their past and become better protective factors for the children. From the assessments, the families will be provided an individualized plan based on the risk factors identified in the new family. In addition to the at home visits, during the first year of placement in a new foster system the participants will have access to other services like parental education, nutrition support, and a stress management workshop all of which plays a role in a successful integration of a child in a new environment. Furthermore, the grant will provide participants (children and foster parents) with the chance to form a network of social support through monthly gatherings, organized by the project coordinator.
Public Health Framework
The Trauma-Informed Philanthropy guide states that “utilizing a public health framework will allow us to have wider-ranging impact than the traditional disease-centric model” and that “breaking down silos to encourage cross-sector, multi-level program…will be the most effective way to prevent adverse childhood experiences and promote healing” (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, n.d.). This project aims to employ these concepts in order to achieve our goals by utilizing a multi-level, multidisciplinary approach. This approach be carried out through the services of social workers as well as health care providers such as a psychiatrist. Moreover, the project seeks to provide social support along with access to workshops taught by various individuals such as a nutritionist which further demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach. The public health levels of prevention are addressed through different parts of this program. First, the program tackles primary prevention of new ACEs by equipping parents with trainings to educate them about the impact of ACEs and to provide them with strategies to guide their children with a trauma-informed lens (Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia, n.d.). Furthermore, there are facets of secondary prevention in the program given the screening requirements for program inclusion. The program seeks to prevent additional ACEs as well as utilize tertiary prevention by having mental health providers help with past trauma in parents and children. This is done in order to decrease the risk of negative outcomes stemming from past trauma as well as to increase the likelihood of the children remaining in their new foster homes.
Levels of the Social-Ecological Model
This project will primarily focus on the intrapersonal and the interpersonal levels of the McLeroy’s social ecological model. The intrapersonal level considers factors such as knowledge, attitudes, and skill (McLeroy et al., 1988). This level of the social ecological model is addressed throughout the program as the resources are intended to help participants with understanding and positively coping with past trauma, get mental health treatment, and receive education from the classes offered. The interpersonal level deals with formal and informal social networks and social support systems (McLeroy et al., 1988). This level is utilized through the creation of the peer support network made up of other foster families and the opportunities provided for all the participants to interact. Furthermore, the participants are also able to have support from the health providers and other specialists involved in the program. Also, the interpersonal level is addressed in the goals of this program which include the establishment of a healthy home environment and the prevention of future ACEs for the foster children.
The intrapersonal and interpersonal levels of McLeroy’s social ecological model were chosen as the focus of this program due to the factors addressed in the project goals, project activities, as well as in the capacity section. Additionally, focusing on these levels will increase the effectiveness of the program as there will be awareness and consideration of the target population’s needs.
Trauma-Informed Principles
In order to ensure that trauma-informed principles are successfully incorporated in all facets of the program, the staff will receive trauma-informed training. The first key principle to be utilized in this project is safety (SAMHSA, 2014). This will be done by ensuring that all staff are trained on the factors of safety as well as ensuring that the setting of the project is physically safe and welcoming. The second key principle that will be utilized is trustworthiness and transparency (SAMHSA, 2014). This will be done by the staff regularly checking that participants understand the project and its goals. Additionally, within the project, the staff members will have regular meetings and update as well as record any changes, Furthermore, the program will also seek input from the participants through discussions and surveys in order to ensure that their needs are being met with the programs resources and the results will anonymously be shared with all the participants. The third key principle that will be utilized is peer support (SAMHSA, 2014). This principle will be incorporated into the program through the opportunities provided for the participants to interact and develop relationships with one another. Furthermore, peer support will be offered for both the foster parents and foster children. The fourth principle addressed is empowerment, voice, and choice through the classes provided that will empower participants to make lifestyle changes by choosing which of the additional courses to attend (SAMHSA, 2014).
References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, April 3). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...tion/aces/index.html
2. Freeman, P. (2014, September 4). PREVALENCE AND RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES AND CHILD BEHAVIOR AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN. Wiley Online Library. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.co...s/10.1002/imhj.21460
3. Galewitz, P. (2018, September 10). Medicaid Covers Foster Kids, But Daunting Health Needs Still Slip Through the Cracks. Kaiser Health News. https://khn.org/news/medicaid-...-through-the-cracks/
4. Huber, & Grimm. (2015, May 7). Most States Fail to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Foster Children. National Center for Youth Law. https://youthlaw.org/publicati...-of-foster-children/
5. McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health education quarterly, 15(4), 351–377. https://doi.org/10.1177/109019818801500401
6. Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia. Trauma-Informed Philanthropy: A Funder’s Resource Guide for Supporting Trauma-Informed Practice in the Delaware Valley. Accessed March 05, 2020.
7. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach, 2014.
8. Turney, K., & Wildeman, C. (2016, November 1). Mental and Physical Health of Children in Foster Care. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1118
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