RIC wins $471K grant for trauma care training in MSW program

PROVIDENCE – A $471,000 federal grant has been awarded to Rhode Island College to train Master of Social Work students on how to treat youth aging out of foster care who have been exposed to traumatic situations.

The goal of the three-year project is to increase the number of skilled social work practitioners who can serve this at-risk population, according to information from the college.

The students will learn “trauma-informed care,” which focuses on treating stress in youth who have been exposed to abuse, neglect, family violence and other traumatic situations.

“Youth in foster care may experience multiple traumatic events, which can lead to post traumatic stress disorder and higher rates of teen pregnancy, homelessness, substance abuse disorders, suicide and unemployment as well as lower rates of high school graduation,” Melinda Gushwa, assistant professor in RIC’s Master of Social Work program and trauma education director, said in a statement.

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RIC’s project is based on curriculum developed by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. In addition to two NCTSN trauma-care courses, RIC students will take a project-specific field seminar in which they will apply classroom training within community agencies that serve youth aging out of foster care.

Students also will have professional learning experiences with social workers, the R.I. Department of Children, Youth & Families and mental and physical health care providers, as well as additional classwork in health leadership.

“We hope that, working with DCYF and community partners, our students can assist these youth to care for themselves, to seek health care and to understand the impacts of trauma in their lives,” RIC School of Social Work Dean Sue Pearlmutter said.

Through the grant, program students, identified as scholars, will receive a stipend to help fund their education. Scholars will have a commitment to pursuing a job working with the region’s older foster care youth.

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