“Men Talking Trauma” helps children in care

CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning recognises the importance of positive male role models in the lives of children and young people. Many who live in foster care (out of home care) have had limited positive relationships with men prior to coming into the care system. Developing healthy relationships with male foster carers can assist children and young people develop resilience and increase their capacity for healing, particularly if they have suffered trauma in their lives.

CatholicCare provides support and training to our foster carers to assist in increasing their ability to respond to the needs of the children and young people they care for in an informed way, underpinned by contemporary research and thinking. In an effort to assist our male carers understand childhood trauma and the affect trauma has on the brain, CatholicCare has developed the two part ‘Men Talking Trauma Series’.

‘Men Talking Trauma’ are interactive sessions facilitated by a CatholicCare provisional? psychologist where men spend time discussing the needs of the children and young person they support in a safe and confidential environment. The first of these sessions was held in July  with the second session of this series being held tonight. The sessions are a great way for male foster carers to connect with one another, learn about contemporary theory and practice in childhood trauma and develop informal support networks with other male carers.

The first session was well received by participants with one male carer saying, “The support and training provided recently was immensely valuable, not only for the excellent quality of training and information provided, but equally so for the secure environment where men opened up to each other about the struggles and joys of caring for kids.”

If you would like to know more about any of the programs CatholicCare provides, please visit  www.catholiccare.org.au or call (02) 4979 1120.

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Lizzie Watkin Image
Lizzie Watkin

Lizzie is Team Leader Content for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

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