Trauma-informed Family Contact Practice for Children in Out-of-home Care

Abstract Trauma knowledge and skills are needed to support relational safety for children in out-of-home care birth family contact is a particular area where trauma-informed approaches critical. Mixed methods were used understand the application of New South Wales, Australia. A total 118 caseworkers 15 organisational leaders took part an anonymous survey or semi-structured interview. Descriptive statistics thematic analysis completed. Results indicated that confident their trauma ability protect at but not explain carers manage conflict between relatives. Confusion about how deliver practice hampered knowledge-to-practice translation. Staff training supervision build workforce evaluated no strategies reduce vicarious identified. Strategies promote psychological improve cultural Aboriginal families infancy. The study demonstrates out-of-home-care sector needs community it can test, implement share promising improving adult child survivors empowered inform lead new contact.