Considerations for implementing culturally grounded trauma-informed child welfare services: recommendations for working with American Indian/Alaska Native populations

ABSTRACT

Cultural humility in trauma informed practice is of paramount importance when working with underserved minority populations. Societal structures and systems of oppression, such as disproportionate representation of American Indian/Alaska Native children in state foster care systems, intergenerational poverty or overrepresentation of people of color in the justice system, are often sources of trauma for marginalized populations. To practice with cultural humility and implement trauma informed practices, systems of care (e.g. child welfare, justice, school, mental health) must attend to structural inequality and tailor treatment accordingly. This paper will describe cultural considerations for systems, organizations and individuals working with American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, families and communities. Recommendations for infusing cultural humility into trauma informed practice will be provided using the ten implementation domains of trauma informed practice as outlined in SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. Content will include an application of the ten domains with examples specific to service delivery with American/Indian Alaska Native populations.

KEYWORDS:

• Culture
• Trauma
• System

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maegan Rides At The Door

Maegan Rides At The Door, LCPC, PhD Candidate, is the Director and Principal Investigator at the National Native Children’s Trauma Center at the University of Montana. Maegan is responsible for implementing a range of training and technical assistance initiatives in tribal communities to develop trauma-informed systems of care.

Ashley Trautman

Ashley Trautman, MSW, JD, serves as an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Montana and as a Juvenile Justice Technical Assistance Specialist at the National Native Children’s Trauma Center. Ashley’s area of professional experience includes collaborating with tribal communities to develop trauma informed systems of care.