Reference no: EM134001181

Question

Senya is a 16-year-old young woman who knows little of her family or her family history. She has been moved from one foster care placement to another and sometimes stayed in shelters. At last count she had lived in over 45 homes since she was 3 years old. Even as young as 4 years of age, she was moved due to being described as difficult and unruly. Sometimes the placement changes were due to caregivers being ill, but mostly they identified they could not warm to Senya and she was untrustworthy. When Senya was 8 years old, she disclosed to a police officer that her foster father had touched her where he shouldn't, but she had kicked him and run away. The foster parents said she was attention seeking and denied any of the allegations. No further action was taken other than moving Senya to a new placement.

Senya last saw her mother when she was 5 years of age and no longer knows where she lives. Her mother's parental rights were terminated around that time, and there was no information about her extended family. Senya has no information about her father except she thinks she was named after his mother. She thinks he is African American or African but does not know for certain. Senya is not sure what culture or race her mother was but believes she was a princess. She remembers her mother's boyfriend as an angry man who yelled and hurt her mother. The records show that when Senya first came into care at the age of 3, she was barely walking, had little language, and could not swallow or chew food without assistance. She would flinch when the caregivers tried to cuddle her and sometimes lashed out in tantrums that seemed to last for hours. Senya has had almost as many schools as placements and struggled to keep up with the academic work. She was, however, described as canny and cleverer than she looks. She last went to school when she was 13 years old. For the last 2 years, Senya has spent a lot of time on the streets and has been reported to use methamphetamine, cocaine, and alcohol at times. She has evaded welfare workers and police although was occasionally caught shoplifting. She has been couch-surfing with acquaintances and episodically using homeless shelters.

Senya gave birth to a baby son 1 month ago. He was born 6 weeks premature and was placed in intensive care due to withdrawing from substances at birth. It is not known who his father is, although it is believed Senya knows. Senya had not attended any prenatal care. She went into labor at a shopping center and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Senya says she is determined to keep her son and presents as angry and frightened that the "welfare" will remove him and that he will have a life like hers. She initially refused to name him, in case it made it easier for the authorities to do the legal paperwork to place him in care. She eventually called him Jay after her favorite singer. Senya has moved to live in a transitional housing program with specialized services for substance abuse and dependence. She has said she will do anything to give Jay a better life than hers.

1. When reflecting on the case scenario: What are some of the implications when considering how to best work with her and her son with a trauma-informed perspective?

2. What do the trauma-informed principles look like in practice, and what does it look like when practice or organizations are not trauma-informed?

3. Are there differences in the application of trauma-informed practice when working with infants, elementary school-age children, and adolescents? Why is this an important consideration?