Calls for a trauma-informed approach to meet the health needs of children in care
A new study from Turning Point and Monash University has used ambulance service data to understand the acute healthcare needs of children in out-of-home care.
The study from Turning Point and Monash University has uncovered an increased likelihood of multiple ambulance attendances for alcohol or drug use, mental illness and self-harm among Victorian children with a history of out-of-home care.
"These findings suggest that children in out-of-home care may be stuck in a crisis-driven revolving health care door, where existing supports are not sufficient in addressing their complex needs," explains the study's lead researcher Dr Ryan Baldwin.
"Rather than responding to the needs of children in out-of-home care in a reactionary, crisis-driven manner, our research suggests that services should utilise a preventative, trauma-informed approach in order to improve their health outcomes," he says.
The findings were outlined in Medical Xpress as a result of a paper published in Child Abuse & Neglect.
Read the article on Medical Xpress.
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