Adverse childhood events (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events that can happen to children between the ages of 0 and 17. They can be a single event or a prolonged series of events. These traumatic events may include the death of a loved one, abuse or neglect.

Studies even show trauma experienced in utero can vastly affect a child’s well-being as they continue to grow and develop. These traumatic events can be a part of the reason the majority of children enter foster care in Texas.

Children typically enter when their biological parents or legal guardians can no longer provide a safe home environment for various reasons, or meet their basic physical, mental and emotional needs. At this point, the State intervenes, and children are removed from their home of origin and placed into foster care.

What are the varying levels and differences within the Texas child welfare system?

Foster care comes in many forms including kinship care, traditional foster care, therapeutic foster care and treatment services.

Children who have experienced more severe childhood trauma typically fall under therapeutic care. These are children with significant emotional, behavioral or mental health needs, and require more intensive services to care for their needs.

Examples of care include taking the child to therapy, speech classes, and advocating on behalf of the child with their doctors and teachers. Having a clear understanding of the child’s background as well as tools for parenting a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder is extremely helpful for a therapeutic foster parent.

Support for visible and invisible needs through therapeutic foster care

Oftentimes when families think of therapeutic care, they may picture Down syndrome, cerebral palsy  or a type of severe, visible, life-altering diagnosis. While these diagnoses can fall under therapeutic care, many times the needs of children in therapeutic care are invisible.
 
Some examples could be physical health concerns, heightened behavioral concerns at school or home or mental health disorders.

Therapeutic foster care exists to provide children and foster families with the tools needed to find health and healing in all aspects of life. At Buckner, the collaborative therapeutic team consists of the foster parents and foster child, a Child Protective Services case worker, Buckner case manager, therapists, behavior support specialist, educators, mentors, medical providers and more to provide wrap-around support.

Journeying toward healing as a therapeutic foster parent is no simple task. These tips may help on the journey as a family:

1. Become a lifelong learner. When a child receives a diagnosis, the caregiver has the responsbility to educate themselves. Research, ask questions, join webinars and work to become the expert on the child and their diagnosis.  
2. Build a solid support network. Expand your village by networking with other families, doctors, counselors or teachers. Develop strong relationships in your church and community and include your family and friends. Having a support network who can help with prayer, babysitting, errands, dinner and more can be encouraging when parenting children with trauma.
3. Have the mindset that kids can heal. It’s important to rememberthat each child is unique and will heal on their own timeline. Sometimes progress is slow and it can feel like growth isn’t possible, but remember every day is a step toward healing and your child is healing in their own time.
4. Be committed. Commitment may look different for different families. For children with auditory hypersensitivity, it may mean carrying around headphones in a bag. For children who have unique struggles but still want to play sports or other extracurriculars, it may mean the partnering with coaches or teachers to create the best experience. Commitment can look and feel different for each family and child, but it’s important in maintaining a long-term healing mindset.

Hope and healing is possible: Nurturing strong relationships

For children in foster care, especially those experiencing therapeutic-level needs, hope and healing is possible.

A 2023 Columbia University study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, found that just one positive relationship with a supportive adult can help a child learn the skills they need to protect them from the lifelong impact of adverse childhood experiences and build resilience.

“For kids, an extremely important resilience factor is a warm, nurturing relationship with a parent, caregiver or other adult," remarked Sara VanBronkhorst, MD, MPH, lead study author and voluntary faculty in psychiatry at Columbia.

This is why loving foster parents are crucial in the story of healing, and it’s why Buckner wants to equip each family with the resources they need to succeed.

We know families can be the catalyst to serving children who need it most. So the question is: Will you take the next step to be that positive influence?
 
Written by Jenna Morgan, recruiter for therapeutic foster care at Buckner International.

Are you interested in learning more about therapeutic foster care? Take the next step now.