Citation

Gigengack MR, Hein IM, Lindeboom R, Lindauer RJL. J. Child Adolesc. Trauma 2019; 12(1): 23-29.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s40653-017-0162-z

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Resource parents are often insufficiently prepared for recognizing and managing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in their traumatized foster children, which can put a successful foster placement at risk. The Resource Parent Curriculum (RPC) developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network is designed to increase resource parents' sensitivity towards child PTSS. This study explores the effect of the RPC on resource parents' recognition of child PTSS, resource parents' perceived upbringing stress in caring for their foster child, and child PTSS before entering the RPC (T0), after completing the RPC (T1) and at six-month follow-up (T2).

RESULTS (n = 108) show an increase in recognition of child PTSS and a decrease in resource parents' experienced upbringing stress and child PTSS over time.

FINDINGS suggest that the RPC increases resource parents' trauma sensitivity. However, child PTSS severity remains high. To address foster children's PTSS, child trauma-focused treatment appears needed in addition to the RPC.

Language: en

Keywords

Child PTSD; Foster care; Posttraumatic stress disorder; PTSD recognition; Resource parent curriculum; Resource parents; Training; Upbringing stress