Vermont Bar Journal, Vol. 40, No. 2 Winter 2014, Vol. 39, No. 4 | Page 28

by Christina Pingert, Esq. THE CHILDREN’S CORNER Is it Trauma and What Do We Do About It? A little over a year ago, I experienced a very traumatic event, when my home was broken into while I was sleeping. I was totally amazed at the effect that it had on me. I found myself unable to concentrate, having trouble sleeping, and being very nervous. Although these symptoms did not last long, it caused me to think more about trauma and its effect on children. This past summer I attended the 15th ABA National Conference on Children & the Law: Lawyers as Partners for Family Well–Being and had the opportunity to attend several workshops on trauma. The following information was provided in a workshop entitled “Emerging Tools for Trauma–Informed Courts: Promoting Child Safety, Permanence and Well Being.”1 The purpose of child welfare intervention is to protect children, provide permanence, and promote child well-being. Traditionally the response of the child welfare system and the court has been to remove the child from the home and provide basic needs in a foster home. Federal ASFA regulations require states to ensure that “Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs.”2 As children develop, 90% of brain growth occurs in the first three years of life. The human brain builds itself based on the experiences it has, making structural changes in response to experiences. The parent-child relationship promotes healthy development if it is responsive, nurturing, and exists in a stable environment with a stable caregiver. There is developmental risk if there is neglect of the child’s physical and emotional needs, harsh or inconsistent punishment and/or frequent changes in caregivers or routines. The effects of trauma, stress, and 28 maltreatment include mental and physical health problems, learning difficulties, behavior problems, substance abuse issues, and problems developing and maintaining healthy relationships. Trauma is the single greatest preventable cause of chronic mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, HIV high risk behavior, and behaviors that lead to heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and suicide. Trauma has many different meanings. Trauma is an exceptional experience in which powerful and dangerous stimuli threaten the child’s life, safety or wellbeing and overwhelm the child’s capacity to regulate emotions.