Not all international experiences are equal.

Every family needs resources specific to what they go through.

To provide effective support, we must understand how different experiences affect families.
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Sources of Trauma in International Childhoods

PROVIDING INDIVIDUALIZED SUPPORT TO INCREASE POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR HIGHER RISK FAMILIES 

This white paper is available for free; please enter your email address below to begin the download.
International life, despite its inherent risks, is worth it! Hard things are not necessarily bad things. When we are aware of potential risks, we can put safety measures in place.... Our desire is that this data will lead to more robust care for international families, so that unnecessary trauma can be avoided, unexpected traumas are dealt with appropriately, and difficult experiences do not necessarily lead to high ACEs.
Sources of Trauma in International Childhoods: Providing individualized support to increase positive outcomes for higher risk families
Background

In 2021, TCK Training conducted a survey of over 2,000 Third Culture Kids (TCKs) to learn more about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the TCK population. After months of data analysis we published our first white paper in June 2022, Caution and Hope, which shared some of the information we gathered and how it might be applied. Following more months of data analysis, our second white paper, TCKs at Risk, was published in December 2022.

Caution and Hope dealt with the big picture of ACEs in TCKs. TCKs at Risk looked at each specific ACE factor, and how they were experienced by different sub-sectors of the TCK community. We also discussed methods for risk mitigation suitable for parents, schools, sending organizations, and all caregivers with responsiblity for globally mobile children.
We believe that when proactive and effective pre-departure education, preventive care, and on-going support are deployed by sending agencies, we will see healthy international families long term.
Sources of Trauma in International Childhoods: Providing individualized support to increase positive outcomes for higher risk families
Sources of Trauma in International Childhoods

In the 2021 survey, we asked not only about ACEs, but also about a variety of other potentially traumatic situations. These questions were based on our experiences working with children and adults who had grown up overseas, knowing what they had found difficult to process or had not had the opportunity to process at the time. We wished to see how prevalent these types of experiences were throughout the TCK community, and whether they were associated with higher ACE scores. Throughout 2023, we ran data analysis on the responses we received. This white paper is the culmination of months of work to analyze and present this data in a helpful way. At the same time, knowing that there is still so much we don't know, we have been preparing a new survey which will launch in November 2023.

The Sources of Trauma white paper is effectively ten short papers gathered together, all following the same pattern. We present a potential source of risk/trauma, and what existing research in non-TCK populations says about this source of risk. We then present our data from the 1,904 TCKs surveyed, including the impact of this factor on ACE scores and specific ACE factors. Finally, for each section we explore what effective family support can look like when this factor is present.
Just because something happens frequently within a community does not mean it is not a source of trauma. Events that happen often can easily be normalized, which means it is important to call them out as stressors that need to be acknowledged and processed.... We may assume an increased level of stressful events is to be expected while living in an international context, but this does not mean that should be considered normal – nor should it be normalized. Instead, we need to recognize these stressful events as threats to the mental health and stability of international families.
Sources of Trauma in International Childhoods: Providing individualized support to increase positive outcomes for higher risk families
How to Cite:
Crossman, T., Wells, L., Vahey Smith, E., & McCall, L. (2023, October 26). Sources of Trauma in International Childhoods: Providing individualized support to increase positive outcomes for higher risk families. Retrieved from https://www.tcktraining.com/research/sources-of-trauma-white-paper


The Sources of Trauma white paper is available for free; please enter your email address below to receive a download link.
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