Clinical Work with Young Children in Foster Care
This full-day workshop addressed psychotherapeutic work with young children in foster care. It described characteristics of young children in foster care as well as characteristics of the adults in their caregiving network. It discussed the kinds of behavioral symptoms that often present in these children as well as the clinical disorders that are frequently diagnosed. The workshop described the many clinical and psychotherapeutic dilemmas that occur for a therapist as well as the feelings that this work often triggers for therapists. The workshop reviewed the therapeutic modalities that have been found to have efficacy with young children in foster care. It also discussed the legal and child welfare system context in which the therapeutic work is embedded, and the many different practitioners that are involved when a child is in foster care. This workshop is designed to be interactive and to draw from participant’s own cases as well as that of the presenter. At the end of the day, Vicki Light, Legal Aid attorney for children, joined to provide an overview of relevant legal issues and to respond to participants' questions