Increasing Resource Parents' Sensitivity towards Child Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: a Descriptive Study on a Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Training

Maj R Gigengack; Irma M Hein; Robert Lindeboom; Ramón J L Lindauer

doi:10.1007/s40653-017-0162-z

Increasing Resource Parents' Sensitivity towards Child Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: a Descriptive Study on a Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Training

J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2017 Jun 24;12(1):23-29. doi: 10.1007/s40653-017-0162-z. eCollection 2019 Mar.

Authors

Maj R Gigengack¹, Irma M Hein^{1

2}, Robert Lindeboom³, Ramón J L Lindauer^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ 1Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
² 2de Bascule, Academic Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
³ 3Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Master Evidence based practice in Health Care, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

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.

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