Children and youth exposed to abuse and neglect are at higher risk for development of mental health disorders as a result of the disruptive psychosocial consequences of these traumas and from the ensuing life disruptions that occur to them. Interventions on behalf of these children are complex and challenging with a clear need to integrate legal, social, psychological, and psychiatric services in a coordinated, collaborative manner. Child and adolescent psychiatrists can more optimally contribute to the care of these children when they are better informed of the multiple dimensions of trauma-related problems, the nature of the child welfare system, and the evidence base on intervention strategies available to support the stabilization and recovery of these children.

This day-long program explores the socio-demographics and the psychological and psychosocial needs of the child welfare population from the perspective of the mental health and child welfare service systems, with the goal of advancing the knowledge of child psychiatrists and other mental health providers so that they can better function as service providers, systems consultants, and outcomes researchers for this population. Child psychiatrists working with these children and their families face numerous clinical, administrative, and systems challenges. They also may have unique opportunities to improve care by promoting the use of evidence-based practices, providing work force continuing education, and implementing scientifically-informed client-centric care.

This program informs child and adolescent psychiatrists and other mental health providers about the dimensions of the problem from a demographic and societal perspective. The neuroscience of social functioning is described, with particular focus on the processes of social identity formation, attachment, and trust—factors that often impact the success of both protective and therapeutic interventions on behalf of the population. Attendees are informed of evidence-based and clinically-informed therapeutic interventions that have achieved recognition as being helpful in addressing the needs of trauma-exposed youth, supporting involved caregivers responsible for these children, and engaging more effectively with youth in therapeutic and adaptive therapies.