Trauma

Definition

Traumatic experiences can have a detrimental impact on a child's life, including his or her functioning in school. It is important for families to be aware of the warning signs of traumatization in their children so that they can intervene early before the experience(s) have a long-lasting effect.

Warning Signs

• House fire

• Being bullied at school

• Witnessing gun violence in one's neighborhood

• Witnessing domestic abuse of a caregiver

• Sudden loss of a parent or close relative

• Incarceration of a parent or close relative

• Substance abuse of a caregiver

• Out-of-home placement (e.g., foster care)

• Physical and/or sexual abuse

Symptoms

• School avoidance: not wanting to go to school, so they are often late or pretend they are sick to have an excuse to stay home

• Somatic complaints: complaining of stomach pains or headaches

• Low self-esteem: often reporting that they can't do anything well or that they aren't good at things

• Extreme anger: difficulty controlling anger, so small things appear to trigger extreme responses of anger

• Hyperactivity/hyperarousal: difficulty sitting still and appearing always to be looking over one's shoulder as though worried something bad will happen

• Change in eating habits: loss of appetite or overeating in order to control or mask emotions

• Drug or alcohol use: using drugs or alcohol to dull one's pain

• Self-injurious behavior: cutting or hurting oneself in other ways in order to control emotions

Resources

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Milwaukee provides support

• Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine Program is a clinic for concerned families that are seeking testing and treatment for a child they suspect has behavioral or psychological difficulties.

• Mental Health America of Wisconsin Strong Families Healthy Homes Program provides several supports for families, including mental health consultation, a parent helpline run by the parenting network, home visits for mental health and prenatal care, and stories of families that have found success with the program.

• Rogers Memorial Hospital Child and Adolescent Treatment Services is a mental health facility serving the Milwaukee community that provides several services and supports for families and children suffering with mental illness.

• Aurora Behavioral Health Services is a provider of services for mental health and behavior concerns serving the Milwaukee community.

• Milwaukee Health Services, Behavioral Health is a provider of services for physical and mental health in the Milwaukee community. This clinic has a sliding fee scale and has two locations (Issac Coggs Heritage Health Center and MLK Heritage Health Center).

• Milwaukee Center for Children and Youth, Inc., is a local organization that provides several programs, including advocacy, parenting programs, restorative practice circles for adolescents, trauma groups for children ages 6-12, and other trauma-informed care groups in the Milwaukee community.