The efficacy of trauma-based therapies for Aboriginal children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC)

Introduction: Aboriginal children are nine times more likely to enter out-of-home care in New South Wales, when compared to a non-Aboriginal child. Following the recommendations made by David Tune OAM, the LINKS Trauma Healing Service commenced a pilot project delivering trauma services to children, young people and their families in the out-of-home care system, with a particular focus on efficacy of service to Aboriginal children, young people and their families. Three evaluations of the program have highlighted positive trends in outcomes for Aboriginal children and their families. However, further analysis on the data is required to investigate the key questions proposed by Atkinson and The Healing Foundation. Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted on the LINKS data collected from 70 Aboriginal children and 74 non-Aboriginal children. Data were analysed using mixed measures ANOVA, to investigate efficacy of trauma treatments for Aboriginal children and to determine if an interaction occurs between the cultural identity of the treating clinician and the cultural identity of the child or young person. Results: Data supported statistically significant reductions in difficulties and trauma symptoms for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children/young people. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) treatments were found to be most beneficial in reducing trauma symptoms overall. An interaction between culture of clinician and culture of client was found for the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children/Children (TSCYC/TSCC) on trauma outcomes. However no interaction was found on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Conclusions: Trauma treatments utilised within the LINKS service show efficacy in reducing difficulties and trauma symptoms for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children/young people in out-of-home care. Moreover, incorporating culturally responsive service delivery shows both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clinicians can yield positive outcomes for Aboriginal children/young people in out-of-home care.