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Childhood Trauma Task Force

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In the case study by Ghosh-Ippen, Lieberman, and NCTSN Core Curriculum on Childhood Trauma Task Force (2012), Amarika is an 18-month-old girl who witnessed the shooting of her mother Makisha at a neighborhood park. Her mother survived the shooting, but was in the hospital for some time after to recover. Her grandmother, Marlene Lawrence, cared for Amarika. Mrs. Lawrence reported that Amarika was refusing to eat and having difficulty sleeping. This is when the social worker, Carla, was contacted to provide trauma intervention for Amarika.
CORE CONCEPT
In this paper, I will discuss how this case study highlights core concept 10: “Culture is closely interwoven with traumatic experiences, response, and recovery.” (NCTSN Core Curriculum on …show more content…

The historical treatment of African Americans in the United States is very dire. History of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the Civil Rights movement all significantly impact this family and the resulting intergenerational trauma can lead to distrust of authority figures. There are also many recent events in our country that demonstrate a culture of distrust of authority figures among African Americans, and apparently for good reason. The very recent advent of smart phones allowing police altercations to be captured on video has shown what many African Americans have known for years: that they are often targeted by police for crimes and treated brutally (McLaughlin, 2015). The family’s willingness to trust in authority, especially if that authority comes in the form of a white person, is highly impacted by this ethic …show more content…

The primary risk factors for this family are social risk factors. As noted by Lieberman and Van Horn (2008), negative outcomes for children increase with multiple risk factors. Amarika’s family faces racial discrimination, given their ethnic identify as African Americans. They also reside in an unsafe neighborhood where gang violence often occurs. Given their inability to move from this area, it can be assumed they are also facing poverty. Mrs. Lawrence is a single mother of two daughters, one of whom is also a young single mother. We also have to consider the political climate, as the family has little influence to change the way that police protect (or fail to protect) their community. The gang violence is an unfortunate part of the community and African American culture in our country. All of these risk factors increase the likelihood that Amarika may experience another traumatic

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