A. Trauma

The concept of trauma and the accompanying research have shifted the paradigm about the way in which systems, organizations, professionals, and caregivers approach and serve children, youth, young adults, and families who experience the child welfare system. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes individual trauma as resulting from "an event, series of events, or set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual's functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being."[132]

Some examples of traumatic experiences include[133]:

• Physical, sexual, or psychological abuse and neglect (including trafficking);
• Family or community violence, both experiencing and witnessing;
• Loss of loved ones;
• Witnessing violence;
• Natural and technological disasters or terrorism;
• Serious accidents;
• Medical trauma;
• Military family-related stressors (e.g., deployment, parental loss or injury)