Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Trauma-Informed Model for Empowerment Programs Targeting Vulnerable Youth

  • Published:
Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Youth-led program development, organizing, research, and health promotion have been identified as an important practices for community practitioners. Since such practices target vulnerable youth, it is critical that such empowerment programs are trauma-informed. This paper addresses trauma, its potential impacts, and cultural differences in understanding trauma as well as the assumptions of empowerment and youth-led programming. The relationship between health and empowerment is described as well as how youth empowerment programs can specifically target symptoms of powerlessness, low self-esteem and interpersonal difficulties, commonly experienced by youth living in socially toxic environments. Implications for program development, research, and policy are considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. For the purpose of this paper, “youth” and “young person,” will be used interchangeably and reference individuals ages 15–24, in line with the United Nations’ definition of youth (UNFPA, 2012).

References

  • Abdul Kolibbonda Lebbie. (2010). The University of Southern Mississippi Center for Human Rights and Civil Liberties. Retrieved September 15, 2015 from https://www.usm.edu/human-rights/student/abdul-kolibbonda-lebbie.

  • African Union. (2006). African youth charter. Retrieved from http://www.au.int/en/sites/default/files/AFRICAN_YOUTH_CHARTER.pdf.

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baily, H. N., Moran, G., & Pederson, D. R. (2007). Childhood maltreatment, complex trauma symptoms, and unresolved attachment in an at-risk sample of adolescent mothers. Attachment & Human Development, 9(2), 139–161. doi:10.1080/14616730701349721.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boden, J. M., Fergusson, D. M., & Horwood, L. (2008). Does adolescent self-esteem predict later life outcomes? A test of the causal role of self-esteem. Development and Psychopathology, 20(1), 319–339. doi:10.1017/S0954579408000151.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bracken, P., Giller, J., & Summerfield, D. (1995). Psychological responses to war and atrocity: The limitations of current concepts. Social Science and Medicine, 95(40), 1073–1082.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Briere, J., & Lanktree, C. B. (2008). Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Adolescents (ITCT-A): A guide for the treatment of multiply-traumatized youth. Unpublished treatment manual. Long Beach, CA: MCAVIC-USC, National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

  • Briere, J., & Lanktree, C. (2011). Treating complex trauma in adolescents and young adults. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulanda, J. J. (2008). “Real talk”: Findings from a youth-led evaluation of an after school leadership development program. Ph.D. dissertation, Loyola University Chicago, United States, Illinois. Retrieved Dissertations & Theses: The Humanities and Social Sciences Collection (Publication No. AAT 3340153).

  • Bulanda, J. J., Bruhn, C., Byro-Johnson, T., & Zentmyer, M. (2014). Addressing mental health stigma among young adolescents: Evaluation of a youth-led approach. Health and Social Work, 39, 73–80. doi:10.1093/hsw/hlu008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bulanda, J. J., Kibblesmith, R., Sami, K., & Tellis, D. (Eds.). (2010). C.R.I.M.E.: Replacing violence with compassion, respect, inspiration, motivation, and empathy. Chicago: Black Freighter Productions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulanda, J. J., & McCrea, K. T. (2013). The promise of an accumulation of care: Disadvantaged African American youths’ perspectives about what makes an after school program meaningful. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 30, 95–118. doi:10.1007/s10560-012-0281-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cakar, F. S., & Karatas, Z. (2012). The self-esteem, perceived social support and hopelessness in adolescents: The structural equation modeling. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 12(4), 2406–2412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Catalano, R. F., Berglund, M. L., Ryan, J. A., Lonezak, H. S., & Hawkins, J. D. (2002). Positive youth development in the United States: Research findings on evaluations of positive youth development programs. Prevention & Treatment, 5(15), 98–124. doi:10.1177/0002716203260102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project. (2013). Creating trauma-informed child welfare systems: A guide for administrators (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Chadwick Center for Children and Families.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chawla, L., & Driskell, D. (2006). The Growing Up in Cities project: Global perspectives on children and youth as catalysts for community change. In B. N. Checkoway & L. M. Gutierrez (Eds.), Youth participation and community change (pp. 183–200). New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkoway, B. N., & Gutierrez, L. M. (Eds.). (2006a). Youth participation and community change. New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Checkoway, B. N., & Gutierrez, L. M. (2006b). Youth participation and community change: An introduction. In B. N. Checkoway & L. M. Gutierrez (Eds.), Youth participation and community change (pp. 1–10). New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christens, B. D., & Kirshner, B. (2011). Taking stock of youth organizing: An interdisciplinary perspective. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 134, 27–41. doi:10.1002/cd.309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Deblinger, E. (2006). Treating trauma and traumatic grief in children and adolescents. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, A., Spinazzola, J., Ford, J., Lanktree, C., Blaustein, M., Cloitre, M., … Van der Kolk, B. (2005). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Psychiatric Annals, 35, 390–398.

  • Cooper, D. G., & Hays, S. P. (2007). Engaging youth for positive change: A critical analysis of case studies on local action. Children, Youth and Environments, 17(2), 433–453.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgado, M. (2006). Designs and methods for youth-led research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado, M., & Staples, L. (2008). Youth-led community organizing: Theory and action. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgado, M., & Zhou, M. (2008). Youth-led health promotion in urban communities: A capacity enhancement perspective. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Denison, J. A., Tsui, S., Bratt, J., Torpey, K., Weaver, M. A., & Kabaso, M. (2012). Do peer educators make a difference? An evaluation of a youth-led HIV prevention model in Zambian schools. Health Education Research, 27, 237–247.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dumont, M., & Provost, M. A. (1999). Resilience in adolescents: Protective role of social support, coping strategies, self-esteem, and social activities on experience of stress and depression. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28(3), 343–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • European Union. (2009). An EU strategy for youth—Investing and empowering. Retrieved from http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2009:0200:FIN:EN:PDF.

  • Fitzpatrick, K. M., Piko, B. F., Wright, D. R., & LaGory, M. (2005). Depressive symptomology, exposure to violence, and the role of social capital among African American Adolescents. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75(2), 262–274. doi:10.1037/0002-9432.75.2.262.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzsimons, S., & Fuller, R. (2002). Empowerment and its implications for clinical practice in mental health: A review. Journal of Mental Health, 11(5), 481–499. doi:10.1080/09638230020023.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flanagan, C. A. & Christens, B. D. (Eds.). (Winter 2011a). Youth civic development: Work at the cutting edge. In New direction for child and adolescent development (Vol. 134). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

  • Flanagan, C. A. & Christens, B. D. (Winter 2011b). Youth civic development: Historical context and emerging issues. New Direction for Child and Adolescent Development, 134, 1–9. doi:10.1002/cd.

  • Flores, K. S. (2007). Youth participatory evaluation: Creative strategies for engaging young people in evaluation. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foa, E. B., Keane, T. M., Friedman, M. J., & Cohen, J. A. (Eds.). (2008). Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford, J. D., Chapman, J., Connor, D. F., & Cruise, K. R. (2012). Complex trauman and aggression in secure juvenile justice settings. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 39(6), 694–724. doi:10.1177/0093854812436957.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gabrarino, J. (1995). Raising children in a socially toxic environment. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gambone, M. A., Yu, H. C., Lewis-Charp, H., Sipe, C. L., & Lacoe, J. (2006). Youth organizing, identity-support, and youth development agencies as avenues for involvement. In B. N. Checkoway & L. M. Gutierrez (Eds.), Youth participation and community change (pp. 235–254). New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginwright, S. G. (2010). Black youth rising: Activism & radical healing in urban America. New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guarino, K., Soares, P., Konnath, K., Clervil, R., & Bassuk, E. (2009). Trauma-informed organizational toolkit. Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Daniels Fund, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hart, R. (1992). Children’s participation from tokenism to citizenship. Florence, Italy: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herman, J. (1992). Complex PTSD: A syndrome in survivors of prolonged and repeated trauma. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 5(3), 377–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honwana, A. (1998). Okusiakala ondalo yokalye, let us light the new fire: Local knowledge in the post-war healing and reintegration of war-affected children in Angola. Retrieved from http://www.forcedmigration.org/psychosocial/inventory/psychosocial-working-group-inventory-of-key-resources/pwg001/pwg001.pdf.

  • Jennings, L. B., Parra-Medina, D. M., Messias, D. K. H., & McLoughlin, K. (2006). Toward a critical social theory of youth empowerment. In B. N. Checkoway & L. M. Gutierrez (Eds.), Youth participation and community change (pp. 31–56). New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirshner, B., & Ginwright, S. (2012). Youth organizing as a developmental context for African American and Latino adolescents. Child Development Perspectives. doi:10.1111/j.1750-8606.2012.00243.x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moodley, R., & West, W. (2005). Integrating traditional healing practice into counseling and psychotherapy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Productions.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton, M., & Montgomery, P. (2011). Youth empowerment programs for improving self-efficacy and self-esteem of adolescents. Campbell Systematic Reviews. doi:10.4073/csr.2011.5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mullen, P. E., Martin, J. L., & Anderson, J. C. (1996). The long-term impact of the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse of children: A community study. Child Abuse Rev, 20, 7–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NCTSN. (2003). Complex trauma in children and adolescents. Retrieved from http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/ComplexTrauma_All.pdf.

  • Nygreen, K., Kwon, S. A., & Sanchez, P. (2006). Urban youth building community: Social change and participatory research in schools, homes, and community-based organizations. In B. N. Checkoway & L. M. Gutierrez (Eds.), Youth participation and community change (pp. 107–124). New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, K. G., Collin, P., Burns, J., & Nicholas, J. (2006). Building resilience in young people through meaningful participation. Australian e-Journal for the Advancement of Mental Health, 5(1), 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pan, L. G., & Papanek, P. E. (2012). The youth empowerment program: Promoting healthy behaviors in minority youth. Washington, DC: The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parson, E. A. (1994). Inner city children of trauma: Urban Violence Traumatic Stress Response Syndrome (U-VTS) and therapists’ responses. In J. P. Wilson & J. D. Lindy (Eds.), Countertransference in the treatment of PTSD (pp. 157–178). New York: Guilford Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Project 1991 Introduction. (2010). The University of Southern Mississippi Center for Human Rights. Retrieved September 15, 2015 from http://www.usm.edu/human-rights/introduction.

  • Schwartz, S. (2010). Youth in post-conflict reconstruction: Agents of change. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shah, S. (2011). Building transformative youth leadership: Data on the impacts of youth organizing. (Occasional Paper Series on Youth Organizing, no. 11). New York Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing. Retrieved from http://www.fcyo.org/toolsandresources.

  • Sherrod, L. R., Torney-Purta, J., & Flanagan, C. A. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of research on civic engagement in youth. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shields, A., & Cicchetti, D. (2001). Parental maltreatment and emotion dysregulation as risk factors for bullying and victimization in middle childhood. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 349–363.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). SAMHSA’s concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

  • Suleiman, A. B., Soleimanpour, S., & London, J. (2006). Youth action for health through youth-led research. In B. N. Checkoway & L. M. Gutierrez (Eds.), Youth participation and community change (pp. 125–146). New York: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolman, J., & Pittman, K., Cervone, B., Cushman, K., Rowley, L., Kinkade, S., … Duque, S. (2001). Youth acts, community impacts: Stories of youth engagement with real results. Community & Youth Development Series, Volume 7. Takoma Park, MD: The Forum for Youth Investment, International Youth Foundation.

  • UNICEF. (2006). Child and youth participation guide. Bangkok, Thailand: UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2011). United Nations World Youth Report. Retrieved from http://www.unworldyouthreport.org.

  • United Nations Population Fund. (2012). Adolescent and youth demographics: A brief overview. Retrieved from http://www.unfpa.org/public/adolescents.

  • Walkley, M., & Cox, L. (2013). Building trauma-informed schools and communities. Children & Schools, 35(2), 123–126. doi:10.1093/cs/cdt007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, N. (1992). Powerlessness, empowerment, and health: Implications for health promotion programs. American Journal of Health Promotion, 6, 197–205.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, N. (2002). Empowerment to reduce health disparities. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 30, 72–77. doi:10.1177/14034948020300031201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wallerstein, N. (2006). What is the evidence on effectiveness of empowerment to improve health? Copenhagen, WHO Regional Office for Europe (Health Evidence Network report. Retrieved from http://www.euro.who.int/Document/E88086.pdf.

  • Wilson, J. P. (2008). Culture, trauma, and the post-traumatic syndrome syndromes: A global perspective. In A. J. Marsella, J. L. Johnson, P. Watson, & J. Gryczynski (Eds.), Ethnocultural perspectives on disaster and trauma (pp. 351–375). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. P., Friedman, M. J., & Lindy, J. D. (2001). An overview of clinical consideration and principles in the treatment of PTSD, Chap. 3. In J. P. Wilson, M. J. Friedman, & J. D. Lindy (Eds.), Treating psychological trauma and PTSD (pp. 59–94). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. P., & So-Kum Tang, C. (2007). Cross cultural assessment of psychological trauma and PTSD. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Woodall, J., Raine, G., South, J., & Warwick-Booth, L. (2010). Empowerment and health & well-being: Evidence review. Centre for Health Promotion Research: Leeds Metropolitan University. Retrieved from http://www.apho.org.uk/resource/Item.aspx?RID=96496.

  • Yasemin Erol, R., & Orth, U. (2011). Self-esteem development from age 14 to 30 years: A longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(3), 607–619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youth in Focus and Movement Strategy Center. (2004). Measuring up and throwing down! Evaluation and self-assessment tools for youth organizing groups. Oakland, CA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northeastern Illinois University, 5500 North St. Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60625-4699, USA

    Jeffrey Bulanda

  2. School District 54, Schaumburg, IL, 60194, USA

    Trisha Byro Johnson

Authors
  1. Jeffrey Bulanda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Trisha Byro Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey Bulanda.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bulanda, J., Byro Johnson, T. A Trauma-Informed Model for Empowerment Programs Targeting Vulnerable Youth. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 33, 303–312 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-015-0427-z

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-015-0427-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation