Unique Presentation Identifier:
79
Program Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Advisor
Dr. Bethany Swindell
Document Type
Presentation
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Location
Online
Start Date
9-4-2026 8:00 AM
Abstract
Title: Strengthening Foster Placement Stability Through Immediate Resource Support and Trauma-Informed Care
Children entering foster care frequently experience abrupt transitions marked by trauma, instability, and limited access to essential belongings. In the Arkansas River Valley, approximately 300 children are in foster care at any given time across Pope, Johnson, and Yell Counties. This project examines how immediate access to material resources and trauma-informed caregiver education influences placement stability during the critical early stages of foster care, recognizing that caregiver stability is essential to child well-being and placement success. In Arkansas, 36% of foster families report declining placements due to structural barriers such as limited childcare access and insufficient material support, contributing to regional instability.This study evaluates how the provision of immediate, dignity-centered material support and trauma-informed resources influences foster placement stability and caregiver readiness. Utilizing a centralized Hub Model, Joseph’s House of Russellville, Inc. serves children and caregivers in Pope, Johnson, and Yell Counties. The program provides new clothing, hygiene kits, essential supplies, and immediate placement assistance, along with educational materials that help caregivers understand trauma’s impact on child development. This community-based initiative utilizes program tracking data, including unduplicated children served, inventory distribution records, and documented instances of sibling groups maintained together due to equipment provision. Expected outcomes include reduced caregiver financial strain, increased caregiver preparedness, and improved placement continuity. By integrating immediate material support with trauma-informed education, this project contributes to broader child welfare discussions regarding early placement stabilization and demonstrates how targeted, community-centered interventions can strengthen foster care infrastructure.
Recommended Citation
Walter, Bethani and Hooks, Betty, "Promoting Placement Stability Through Trauma-Informed Resource Support: A Community-Based Foster Care Intervention" (2026). ATU Scholars Symposium. 4.
https://orc.library.atu.edu/atu_rs/2026/2026/4
Research Poster
Promoting Placement Stability Through Trauma-Informed Resource Support: A Community-Based Foster Care Intervention
Online
Title: Strengthening Foster Placement Stability Through Immediate Resource Support and Trauma-Informed Care
Children entering foster care frequently experience abrupt transitions marked by trauma, instability, and limited access to essential belongings. In the Arkansas River Valley, approximately 300 children are in foster care at any given time across Pope, Johnson, and Yell Counties. This project examines how immediate access to material resources and trauma-informed caregiver education influences placement stability during the critical early stages of foster care, recognizing that caregiver stability is essential to child well-being and placement success. In Arkansas, 36% of foster families report declining placements due to structural barriers such as limited childcare access and insufficient material support, contributing to regional instability.This study evaluates how the provision of immediate, dignity-centered material support and trauma-informed resources influences foster placement stability and caregiver readiness. Utilizing a centralized Hub Model, Joseph’s House of Russellville, Inc. serves children and caregivers in Pope, Johnson, and Yell Counties. The program provides new clothing, hygiene kits, essential supplies, and immediate placement assistance, along with educational materials that help caregivers understand trauma’s impact on child development. This community-based initiative utilizes program tracking data, including unduplicated children served, inventory distribution records, and documented instances of sibling groups maintained together due to equipment provision. Expected outcomes include reduced caregiver financial strain, increased caregiver preparedness, and improved placement continuity. By integrating immediate material support with trauma-informed education, this project contributes to broader child welfare discussions regarding early placement stabilization and demonstrates how targeted, community-centered interventions can strengthen foster care infrastructure.