Trauma Informed Assessment Tool

I also am interested in any tools you uncover. Trauma bonds are a special concern, particularly the victim-victim dynamic (as opposed to victim-perpetrator). I haven’t found much written on that  topic.

I’m a former adoption social worker who has had a strong belief in keeping sibs together. Now I’m the adoptive mom of three sibs, including 2 boys who probably should have been placed separately. In their first 1-2 years of life, they were rivals for limited resources, and they have a love-hate intensity that is chaotic and very difficult to manage.

I was pretty well-informed about trauma, and thought I knew what we were taking on, but I was not prepared for the chaos of my boys’ trauma bond - although it was evident from their first visit to our home. I seriously over-estimated our ability to maintain a therapeutic environment.

I thought that since the three sibs have always had a strong bond, they didn’t have “attachment disorder.” Wrong. Their sibling bonds are complicated by trauma, and their trust of adults is minimal. Neither is a predator, but a deep level they feel unsafe around each other, and they externalize and amplify one another’s chaotic stress.

I don’t know if more knowledge will help parents prepare for the lived experience. However, it may help guide placement decisions, so fewer families get as overwhelmed as ours has been. Prospective parents (and placement workers) may need to be given an “out” if they suspect that the trauma bonding of a sib set may undermine the very purpose of keeping sibs together.

Anyway... I would love to check out any assessment tool you find. Thank you for your post. 🌷

Just adding a quick note that you may want to post this in the ACEs in Foster Care community.  I did a quick glance at the Blog post categories and found there tools: https://www.pacesconnection.com...-guides-and-toolkits

While it is not a trauma-informed assessment tool, I would like to add the tool we use to help understand and manage trauma relationships (among others) is the victim/drama triangle and our unique tools built into and empowerment triangle. I'd be happy to have more conversation if there's an interest.