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

Pamela Parkinson, PhD, LCSW

Training Description

Do we realize the attachment trauma that family separation has on children of all ages? This includes children 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 children? 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 Objectives

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.