SW 990 Trauma Informed Child Welfare Practice

3 credits

In this course, students will apply the core concepts of trauma to the child welfare system.  Students will consider strategies for identifying protective factors to reduce the adverse impact of trauma for children and families in the child welfare system. Trauma is broadly defined and includes children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events, such as abuse and neglect, witnessing interpersonal crime (e.g. domestic violence), experiencing community violence and other traumatic events.  Using a unique case-based, hands-on learning approach (through Problem-based Learning), students will work through detailed child welfare cases by applying the best evidence about the identification and impact of trauma on children and their families.   Students will gain knowledge about the role of child development and culture in implementing trauma-specific assessments and interventions with children, youth and families in a child welfare context.