Assignment 1: 1 page
Experiences of genocide, racial violence, forced migration, and other traumatic events can have lasting effects, not just on the individuals who endured the traumas, but on their ancestors. Learn more about historical and generational trauma by watching the following short videos before posting to the discussion area:
- What Is Historical Trauma? (5:52, captioned)
- How Do People Experience Historical Trauma? (6:07, captioned)
- What Is Cultural Healing? (5:18, captioned)
After you have viewed the videos, post a response to each of the questions:
1. In your own words, explain historical trauma. Reflect on what it means to you.
2. How might historical trauma impact a relationship between an elder (parent, grandparent, etc.) and a child and/or effect child-raising practices in general?
3. Describe a racial microaggression that you have witnessed in a social interaction, human service practice setting, or educational setting. How did you feel about the microaggression and how did you respond? If a child or teen experienced microaggressions on a daily or weekly basis, what do you think the cumulative impact might be?
4. How might you implement culturally-responsive strategies in working with people who have experienced historical trauma? If you are unsure, what resources (including people) could you draw upon to help you? Need Assignment Help?
Assignment 2: 4 pages
Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) often experience racial stress and trauma in our current society due to discrimination in institutions (school, work, government, etc.), microaggressions in day-to-day life, and the legacy of racism and oppression in American history. Children and teens are not removed from these stressors and may also experience race-based stress.
In an essay of 4-5 pages, you will explore and analyze how BIPOC (or a specific racial/cultural subgroup of) children and adolescents are likely to be impacted by a race- and/or culturally-based event or situation in our current U.S. society. To develop your essay, please do the following:
1. Choose an issue, event, or situation that can lead to racial stress or trauma for a child or adolescent of color. For example, you may focus on the killing of unarmed Black people by police, family separation or forced deportations of immigrants or refugees as a result of U.S. immigration policies and practices, or experiencing racial microaggressions in schools.
2. Describe how you think these experiences could be perceived by a child or teen. Consider both the experience of those who are directly involved in these events/situations (i.e. a child who is in an immigration detention center or who has been the target of racial aggression) AND the experiences of those who have witnessed such events either in person or through media exposure.
3. Drawing on and referring to the required reading for module 8, Content Guides 1 and 2, and the podcast interview with ResmaaMenakem, provide an analysis of how a child or teen could be impacted by the events/situations you describe. How might a child perceive or understand the situation? What might make the experience of trauma better or worse for the child? And what stress or trauma symptoms might the child have?
4. Finally, apply what you have learned about how parents and professionals can help children cope with trauma to this situation. What can adults do, formally and informally, to support children and teens who experience the kind of racial stress or trauma that you have been discussing in your essay?
You should rely primarily on scholarly sources but may use non-scholarly sources such as newspaper articles and reports from reputable organizations as well.
Assignment 3: 2 pages
Part A. In your own words (and drawing upon the reading), describe some of the possible negative effects that a person who works with traumatized children might experience. Next, describe some of the positive aspects of helping children who have experienced trauma.
Part B.
1. Complete this self-care assessment. (You do not need to share your specific answers.)
2. Use this template (attached) to create a self-care plan for the coming 3 months.
3. Finally, post what you have learned or any insights you have gained about your own self-care needs. How might creating a self-care plan help you in your current or future work and life (whether or not you work with traumatized children)?
Part C.
1. Imagine a family that has experienced trauma or toxic stress. (If you aren't familiar with a family, you can use this case study instead.) Briefly describe the challenges and strengths of the family.
2. Create a family self-care plan based on what you know about that family.