If you work with young people in out of home care (OOHC), you’ll probably need to talk about their sexual and reproductive health at some point. These discussions can be especially challenging, as young people in OOHC may have experiences of trauma. It’s important to approach these discussions with extra care and consideration.
By learning about trauma informed practices and creating safe, supportive environments, you can help reduce the risk of re-traumatisation and make a positive impact on the sexual health of young people in OOHC.
Young people who have experienced trauma need your support to access safe, informed, and compassionate sexual health education. Trauma informed care offers a framework that makes this possible.
But, to understand and define trauma informed care, you need to first understand what trauma is.
The Blue Knot Foundation defines trauma as a deeply upsetting experience that overwhelms a person’s ability to cope. It happens when someone feels threatened or helpless, causing long-lasting emotional, psychological, and sometimes physical effects.
Young people in OOHC who’ve experienced trauma are more likely to face poorer sexual health outcomes due to complex factors such as poverty, neglect, abuse, and family breakdown. These challenges may make it harder for them to access the support and care they need.
This is where trauma informed care comes in. Trauma informed care is a systems-level approach that helps organisations understand, recognise, and respond to trauma. It involves a strong awareness of how trauma affects a person’s needs and behavior, guiding professionals to create safe, non-judgmental environments for discussions about sexual health.
As one research paper puts it:
“Trauma informed care is a strengths-based framework that is grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma. It emphasises physical, psychological, and emotional safety for everyone and creates opportunities for trauma survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.”
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) outlines four key assumptions that form the basis of trauma informed care. These are often referred to as the ‘four Rs’ and apply to all areas of an organisation.
Along with the 4 Rs, SAMHSA has key trauma informed care principles (also known as trauma informed values) that are essential for providing trauma informed care to young people. These are universally recognised and should be integrated into your service.
Physical and emotional safety are crucial in a trauma informed approach to discussing sexual health. If you work with young people, it’s important to create safe, welcoming spaces. This means being aware of the physical environment, ensuring privacy, and recognising emotional triggers during conversations.
Building trust with young people who’ve experienced trauma takes time. Be transparent in your interactions, avoid making promises you can’t keep, and provide clear information to help build and maintain trust. Building trust with young people also involves establishing trust and openness with their families and communities. When building trust with young people, it’s Important to provide support within the scope of your role and follow mandatory reporting requirements. Mandatory reporting in NSW requires professionals and individuals in roles working with children and young people to report harm or concerns about a young person’s safety, welfare, or wellbeing.
People who have experienced trauma often connect better with young people facing similar challenges. That’s why working with trained peers with lived experience can be a powerful way to build trust and create a sense of safety. Peer supports workers, who are already important in mental health and addiction services, can play a key role in sexual health education by providing relatable insights and support that resonate with young people.
Young people should be empowered to take charge of their health—including sexual health decisions. Working together in decision-making can help restore the sense of control that trauma often takes away, leading to a more balanced power dynamic.
As our detailed Trauma Informed Care Guide says:
“Educating young people about sexual health leads to empowerment, and empowerment leads to awareness, higher self-value, and choice.”
That’s why it’s important to recognise, nurture, and validate the strengths and autonomy of young people regarding their sexual health.
At the core of trauma informed care is a deep awareness of the historical and systemic factors, such as historical trauma, genocide, and institutional racism, that can shape a young person’s experiences. That’s why services need to explicitly acknowledge the diverse cultural, gender, and identity needs of young people.
This trauma informed care cheat sheet provides practical trauma informed care examples.
Do something ‘with’ a person rather than do something ‘for’ or ‘to’ the person
By using trauma-sensitive approaches, you can create safer, more supportive environments that empower young people to make informed choices about their sexual health.
Trauma informed care is a service approach that acknowledges the impact of trauma on people’s lives. It aims to create safe environments, prevent re-traumatisation, and promote healing by understanding and addressing the effects of trauma.
The definition of trauma informed care includes understanding how trauma impacts a person’s behavior and health. It incorporates this awareness into the care process to ensure safety, support, and empowerment while preventing re-traumatisation.
The principles of trauma informed practice include Safety, Trustworthiness, Peer Support, Collaboration, and Empowerment, all of which help ensure that care is supportive and promotes healing.
Examples of trauma informed care include creating safe, non-judgmental environments, using empowering language, and providing care choices to help avoid triggering trauma.
