Working with System Involved Youth Separated from Biological Families: The Impact of Traumatic Separation on Attachment

Pamela Parkinson, Ph.D., LCSW

Training Description

Do we realize the attachment trauma that family separation has on our kids of all ages? This includes kids being separated from their families in foster care, juvenile justice, immigrating to the U.S., etc. What does this breaking up of families do to our kids? This training will look at the deep attachment ruptures that are occurring for system-involved youth and other ruptures that are happening in their lives and which are contributing to the behaviors for which they are exhibiting. These ruptures are interfering with positive outcomes of system involved youth and we need to understand that.

Learning Objective

Participants will be able to:

· Explain what is meant by the trauma of loss and identify at least two attachment ruptures that these traumatic losses can create for system involved youth.

· Identify at least 2 ways that we can decrease the pain of attachment ruptures for system involved youth and families.

· Identify at least 2 ways to keep families “intact” after they have been separated that will facilitate possible reunification and more permanent placements.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:10AM Sign In

10:10 – 11:30AM Discussion of what we mean by the trauma of loss through family separation and what is meant by attachment rupture?

11:30 – 11:45AM BREAK (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

11:45AM – 1:00PM Review and describe why the healing of these family relationships are important whether the kids live with their families or not.

1:00 – 1:30PM LUNCH (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

1:30 – 3:00PM Explore Pain in the Heart Theory (PITH) in relation to supporting youth as they recover from the trauma of family separation.

3:00 – 3:15PM BREAK (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

3:15 – 4:15PM Small Group work to explore strategies for healing the attachment ruptures that our youth experience during and after family separation! 

Ways we can advocate on behalf of this healing and how important it is to be addressed!

4:15 – 4:30PM Wrap-up/Adjournment

Meet Our Trainer

Pamela Parkinson, PhD, LCSW, is a clinical psychologist and clinical social worker, whose specialty area is working with youth and their families with an emphasis on the importance of family engagement and on the healing of traumatic attachment ruptures in work with youth, especially youth who we serve in our continuum of care: child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and the school systems. Dr. Parkinson is also a certified PCOMS evidence-based practice trainer. She currently works as a child/family trainer and consultant to CBO’s in the Bay Area and Pamela has worked in level 14 residential, NPS, hospitals, and a variety of community-based settings including outpatient clinics, schools, diversion, kinship, etc.

Annya Shapiro, LMFT | Executive Director, Daly City Youth Health Center:  Annya, LMFT, joined DCYHC as Director of Behavioral Health in 2020 and has dedicated over 15 years to providing youth and families with trauma-informed mental health support services. Annya is passionate about family work and training clinicians to provide the best possible mental health care for the most vulnerable members of our community. Annya’s commitment to community mental health is evident in her innovative and collaborative approach to identifying and meeting the needs of the communities she serves. She believes that lasting mental health is best achieved when healing and support is extended beyond the individual to families, schools, and communities.  Annya has been promoted to Executive Director of DCYHC but continues to support the center with clinical supervision and training.

This course meets the qualifications for (5.5) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.