-By Warren Sheridan, M.A., LPC-A, LCPAA – Vice President of Permanency: EmberHope Connections
When children are exposed to trauma or toxic stress, the synaptic connections in their brains become re-wired, and this affects basic bodily functions like heart rate, breathing, and movements. Also, their basic emotional functions, such as personality, decision-making, discerning fear, and social behavior, are affected.
These basic building blocks of one’s self are altered and these children can easily become dysregulated for a variety of reasons. Dysregulation may look like uncontrollable behaviors, including tantrums or crying fits. These behaviors may also present as acting disobedient or obstinate. If dysregulation occurs, without intervention, crisis is often imminent, and targeted interventions are needed to help these youth.
Through the connecting, empowering, and correcting principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), we are able to combat the effects of the trauma and toxic stress that children have sustained. We are able to lead them toward a path of healing. Learn more about the crisis intervention steps to take within your foster home, emphasizing TBRI principles and practices.
Embrace TBRI Principles
TBRI focuses on connecting with children, empowering them, and addressing their needs through correcting principles. When you implement TBRI principles, you can lay a foundation for a supportive environment.
Create a Safe Space (Empowering)
Foster children may struggle with feeling safe, so ensuring the home environment is calm, secure, and predictable is helpful. If the child is used to a certain routine and this is disrupted, this could cause major dysregulation. Keep routines consistent and communicate when a routine may be disrupted.
Be sure to “prepare the body” and check to see if the child is properly hydrated, hungry, or hot. Oftentimes, children can easily become dysregulated if one or all of these things occur. If dinner is not for another hour and the child stated they were hungry an hour ago, a handful of Goldfish crackers could easily be the solution to helping the child regulate and meet their needs.
Also, foster children who have experienced trauma see negative impacts in sensory regulation, so integrate a sensory activity to help them self-regulate during times of stress. Help them through physical activity like wall pushups or rocking. Listen to calm music or lower the lighting levels. Use a weighted blanket or go to a quieter space. Be sure to encourage open communication and use language that empowers and validates their feelings. Create an atmosphere where they feel heard and understood.
Cultivate a Calm Presence (Connecting)
We can connect with our children through approaching the situation with a calm presence. Be flexible in terms of responses and use creative problem-solving.
Maintain good eye contact, using a firm but caring or authoritative voice. Match the behavior of the child. For example, if the child is on the floor sitting, get down to their level before having the conversation. Make the interactions playful, and use a healthy touch such as a light pat on the shoulder or a little squeeze of the hand. Remember, we always want to connect before we correct!
Address the Behavior (Correcting)
When correcting, it’s crucial to remain calm. Foster children may have experienced punitive measures in the past, and maintaining composure helps build trust and assures them of a safe environment.
We also want to ensure that we are involving the child in decision-making processes. Offering choices empowers them and provides a sense of control, fostering cooperation and reducing power struggles. For example, ask, “Do you want to play the video game for 10 more minutes before coming to dinner or do you want an extra 10 minutes to play before bedtime?”
Clearly communicate expectations and consequences consistently. Predictability establishes a secure environment, reinforcing that corrective actions are fair and based on established guidelines.
Acknowledge positive behaviors and achievements. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool to promote desired behaviors and build a child’s self-esteem.
Following correction, take intentional steps to rebuild connection. Engage in activities that the child enjoys, reinforcing that your relationship is strong even when correction is necessary. Lastly, regularly reflect on your approach. If certain corrective strategies are not yielding positive results, be open to adjusting your methods. Flexibility is key to meeting the evolving needs of each child.
What Now?
Sometimes when a youth is in crisis, we may need some additional resources to help us even after we have worked through our own crisis intervention strategies.
If a child is an imminent threat to themselves or others, we need professional help. Here are some crisis intervention resources to help you navigate through a crisis.
Kansas:
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
- Phone: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
- Website: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Family Crisis Response Helpline:
- Phone: 1-833-441-2240
- Website: Welcome – Family Crisis Response Helpline (ks.gov)
Kansas Crisis Text Line:
- Text “CONNECT” to 741741
- Website: Crisis Text Line
Comcare Crisis Intervention Services (Wichita):
- Phone: 316-660-7500
- Website: Sedgwick County, Kansas | Sedgwick County, Kansas
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
- Phone: 988
- Website: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call. Text. Chat. (988lifeline.org)
“For all children who have experienced trauma, TBRI is the key to unlocking the treasure that is each child’s full potential.” – Warren Sheridan
“It’s important to note that TBRI starts with the caregiver understanding their own relationship histories and trauma so they are able to regulate themselves and focus on connecting with the child in crisis. When they can be fully present, they are better able to read a child’s cues and respond appropriately. Once the child starts to feel safe, the caregiver will then be able to see the need behind the behavior and meet that need.” – Julie Breshears | Initial Licensing Trainer
