Fostering and Building Resilience in Immigrant Children (FABRIC)

FABRIC is a training program designed for organizations that serve the needs of immigrant children currently in or recently released from detention facilities and migrant shelters, and other related placements. Based on psychological science, this program will train staff to provide trauma-informed support to immigrant children and build their resilience in the face of experiencing trauma. It also will provide individuals with the skills to manage and mitigate the stress they encounter in working with traumatized children. Participants do not require an advanced degree to receive training. Our program uses a train-the-trainer model, i.e., we train staffers from organizations that serve immigrants so that they may teach direct service staff or volunteers how to provide trauma-informed support to immigrant children.

• Information on the trauma experienced by immigrant children, consequences of exposure and risk and protective factors.
• Strategies for building resilience that can reduce the effects of trauma and bolster protective factors in regular interactions with immigrant children.
• Self-care strategies for individuals working with immigrant children.

• The essential elements for healthy childhood development.
• Trauma and its consequences for children.
• Risk and protective factors and resilience in children.
• An overview of children’s immigration experiences.
• Trauma related to immigration and forcible separation from parents.
• How to provide supportive environments for immigrant children.
• Steps for engaging immigrant children and helping them heal from traumatic experiences.
• Methods to identify children who need additional care or services.
• How to manage secondary traumatic stress.
• Strategies for coping and approaches to self-care.

1. Workshop training materials.
2. A list of additional resources.
3. A Handbook of Children’s Activities to help children to communicate their feelings and traumatic experiences.

Following the training, four additional technical assistance webinars will be provided to address questions that arise after the initial workshop.

To arrange a FABRIC training, please contact:

Lauren Caldwellopens in new window, JD, PhD 
Director, APA’s Children, Youth and Families Office 
(202) 336-6163