Experts from around the world are to come together to discuss developments in the treatment for children who have experienced trauma
Experts from the world of child mental health are coming to Scotland to find solutions to help overcome the impact of childhood trauma.
The event focuses on research and best practise in trauma informed care for young people.
Maree Todd, minister for children and young people, will open the conference, and Bruce Adamson, Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland, will chair the day. Delegates are coming from the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Belgium, Romania, Hungary, USA and Australia.
Howard Bath, clinical consultant at Allambi Care based in Australia, will discuss safety, connections and coping as the three pillars of the trauma-informed model. Shumela Ahmed from Resilience Learning Partnership will harness lived experience through a trauma-informed lens to bridge the gap between young people and professionals.
Kibble’s clinical director Dan Johnson will look at the care model in practice, and Mark Fraedo, director of Growing Edge Training based in Ohio, will speak about connecting trauma with Life Space Crisis Intervention, a therapeutic strategy for turning crisis situations into learning opportunities for young people
Jim Gillespie, chief executive at Kibble, said: “In terms of care for children and young people, and using a trauma-informed approach in providing such services, we’re always keen to learn from our global counterparts but there’s also a lot we can bring to the table to help other counties learn from our approach.
“We frequently welcome visitors from across the world to share knowledge and expertise to ensure that children are receiving the best possible care from a model that reflects their needs.
“We’re honoured to represent Scotland’s care sector as we bring the EFeCT Symposium to Glasgow for the second time, and we’re looking forward to hearing about new research, developments and experiences that will collectively support each member in continuously improving individual approaches.”
Early childhood trauma refers to the traumatic experiences of children aged 0 to 6. These traumas can be the result of intentional violence, such as physical or sexual abuse, or domestic violence, or the result of natural disaster, accidents, or war. Young children also may experience traumatic stress in response to painful medical procedures or the sudden loss of a parent or caregiver.
