INTRODUCTION: The Trauma responsive care model is a New Zealand based research-informed model for use in practice with children and young people. The model was first developed in a master's qualitative project which sought to address the research question “Does the quality of relationships with staff members have a positive impact on outcomes for children who reside in group home settings?” Weaving together a Te Ao Maori worldview and neuroscience lens, this presentation covers practical ways practitioners can implement a trauma responsive approach to their practice.  

METHODS: Using semi-structured, in-depth interviews, eight children were interviewed regarding their experience of relationships while living within residential group homes. In order to gain multiple perspectives on this topic, six biological parents and two legal guardians of children were interviewed and focus group discussions were held with staff members from three residential group homes. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes identified from the findings.

FINDINGS: Five dominant themes were identified from the children’s and parent’s interviews. The central theme was the importance of relationships; that relationship is the key when working with children who have experienced trauma. Children who have experienced trauma need to feel safe in the context of relationships and benefit from bottom-up interventions in order to heal from their traumatic experiences.

CONCLUSION: A research-informed model of trauma responsive practice was constructed from study findings informed by two principal bodies of knowledge: (1) attachment theory; and (2) neuroscience. The trauma responsive care model is represented using a wharenui, a Māori meeting house where each part of the model tells a story of the cultural significance of the wharenui and how it relates to the healing of trauma. The trauma responsive care model provides a framework of strategies for anyone working with children who have experienced trauma and/ or attachment difficulties.