Trauma & the Brain
This term describes how repeated stress can change how the brain responds to danger.
What is trauma?
This approach focuses on what parents do well rather than only what they need to fix.
What is a strengths-based approach?
The primary purpose of parent-child visits is to support this.
What is attachment and relationship building?
Clear, respectful boundaries actually help build this with parents.
Hint: Starts with a "T"
What is trust?
The legal goal that prioritizes reunification when safe.
What is permanency?
Birth parents involved in child welfare often experience this type of trauma from system involvement.
What is system-induced or secondary trauma?
A simple engagement technique that involves reflecting back what a parent says.
What is active listening?
Consistent visits can help reduce this for children in care.
What is trauma or anxiety?
This communication style is calm, clear, and non-judgmental.
Hint: Starts with an "A"
What is assertive communication?
Case plans are most effective when parents help create them.
True
This brain response can make parents seem “non-compliant” when they are actually overwhelmed.
What is fight, flight, or freeze?
Instead of “You missed your visit,” this reframe shows curiosity rather than blame.
What is “Can you help me understand what got in the way?”
True or False: Visits should only focus on correcting parenting mistakes.
What is False?
When emotions are high, this staff RESPONSE helps de-escalate situations.
What is staying regulated and calm?
The primary reason the courts typically assign more visits (3-5x wk) for babies/small children.
What is attachment and bonding?
Engaging in this trauma-informed practice prioritizes this feeling before learning or behavior change can occur.
What is providing a safe space?
In a 7-day meeting, the FS compliments the youth by saying, For example: Jacob is really good at following instructions.
This shows what to the parent/guardian?
What is respect?
When the parent is not adhering to visit expectations it is this persons role to address the issue in the moment.
Who is the facilitator?
This phrase avoids power struggles: “You have a choice between ___ and ___.”
Hint: What is this action called.
What is offering choices?
True/False: TFY decides the permanency plan of children in care.
What is false?
True or False: Trauma-informed care means excusing harmful behavior.
What is False
Name one reason recognizing effort (not just success) matters when working with parents.
What is building trust / motivation / hope?
Name one way to support a parent after a difficult visit.
What is debriefing, reassurance, feedback, or resource connection?
True or False: Being empathetic means agreeing with everything a parent says.
This is the permanency plan for children who enter into care for the first time, regardless of what the parents are accused of.