Crosby Robert G, Smith Erin I, Gage Jeffrey, Blanchette Leon
California Baptist University, Riverside, CA USA.
Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, IL USA.
J Child Adolesc Trauma. 2021 Jan 6;14(4):493-505. doi: 10.1007/s40653-020-00334-w. eCollection 2021 Dec.
Over half of American children will experience at least one traumatic event, and nearly one in six will experience four or more events. These traumatic events affect children's physical and mental health throughout their lives. Consequently, organizations which serve children, including local religious congregations, are urged to adopt the principles of trauma-informed care. The purpose of this study was to describe specific ways in which trauma-informed principles are applied by church children's ministries. We gathered interview, focus group, and observational data from nine different children's ministries that were previously identified as being exceptionally inclusive and supportive. Interview participants included nine children's pastors, 17 children's ministry volunteers, and 38 individuals across 14 families. Focus group participants included 20 children ages 7 to 13. Data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive methodology using both a deductive and inductive approach. Drawing from prior literature, we deductively categorized the values (preparation, awareness, collaboration, and transparency) and goals (that children feel safe, regulated, connected, and valued) of trauma-informed children's ministries. Results inductively identify and describe specific ways in which each of these values and goals were applied in the children's ministry context. Our results reveal that churches have the potential to be places of healing for children who have experienced trauma. Moreover, although many of these trauma-informed practices in a children's ministry context are similar to a school context, there are important differences that make children's church a unique context for care. We highlight the implications for children's ministries.
超过半数的美国儿童至少会经历一次创伤性事件，近六分之一的儿童会经历四次或更多此类事件。这些创伤性事件会影响儿童一生的身心健康。因此，包括当地宗教团体在内的为儿童服务的组织被敦促采用创伤知情照护原则。本研究的目的是描述教会儿童事工应用创伤知情原则的具体方式。我们收集了来自九个不同儿童事工的访谈、焦点小组和观察数据，这些事工此前被认定为具有极高的包容性和支持性。访谈参与者包括九名儿童事工牧师、17名儿童事工志愿者以及来自14个家庭的38个人。焦点小组参与者包括20名7至13岁的儿童。使用定性描述方法，采用演绎和归纳方法对数据进行分析。借鉴先前的文献，我们对创伤知情儿童事工的价值观（准备、意识、协作和透明度）和目标（让儿童感到安全、情绪稳定、有联系和被重视）进行了演绎分类。结果归纳识别并描述了这些价值观和目标在儿童事工背景下的具体应用方式。我们的结果表明，教会有潜力成为经历过创伤的儿童的治愈之所。此外，尽管儿童事工背景下的许多创伤知情做法与学校背景下的做法相似，但也存在重要差异，这使得儿童教会成为一个独特的照护环境。我们强调了对儿童事工的启示。
