Social Work Practice with Traumatized Children and Adolescents

(3 Credits)

This elective course offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about traumatic events and life stressors that impact children/adolescents and their families. A bio-psycho-social perspective with emphasis on attachment and emotional regulation is used to prepare students to work with trauma in the context of their family, school, social and support systems Children’s/adolescent’s coping mechanisms and resiliency are examined, particularly related to children exposed to multiple and severe life stressors. Evidence-based models of treatment and prevention involving the child, family and community will be discussed. Trauma scenarios studied will include but are not limited to: community and family violence and neglect and stressors such as poverty, interpersonal violence, bullying, systemic and historical trauma, illness and loss.