Prof. Paris Shares Expertise on Evidence-Based Practices at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s Annual Conference
Evidence-based practices (EBP) are only effective if they can adapt to the needs of diverse communities. To improve equitable access to these interventions, Prof. Ruth Paris from BU School of Social Work and her colleagues recently led a workshop on how practitioners can adapt EBPs for children with traumatic stress and their families at the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Annual Conference.
“Parents and their providers are eager to access high quality information, resources, and interventions, but cannot always follow through with all the steps of a program due to readiness, time constraints, cultural appropriateness, or other demands,” the presenters explain. “Despite not receiving every session in the original format, parents of young children have indicated that participating in a modified or adapted intervention is highly valuable. They say they are better attuned and understanding of their children’s emotions and behaviors, delight in their children’s development, and that they will make improvements to their parenting strategies as a result of the intervention.”
The workshop included five examples of how EBPs were adapted to meet the practical and real needs of diverse communities. In addition, participants were able to apply the lessons to their unique settings.
Paris is a trauma expert specializing in infant and early childhood mental health. Much of her research focuses on families struggling with substance and opioid use disorders. She presented with Salam Soliman, PsyD, director of the Center of Prevention and Early Trauma Treatment at the National Service Organization for Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First; Ann Chu, PhD, associate clinical professor, University of California, San Francisco Child Trauma Research Program; and Rebecca Vivrette, PhD, research scientist and clinical psychologist at Child Trends.