LGBTQ youth are disproportionately impacted by multiple forms of childhood trauma, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, dating violence, sexual assault, and peer violence. The emerging practices of trauma-informed care and trauma-specific interventions have made significant contributions to the manner in which systems respond to the needs of traumatized youth. However, these youth are largely excluded from many trauma-informed conversations. This article seeks to use the Concepts for Understanding Traumatic Stress Responses in Children and Families, developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, to address the traumatic experiences and responses of LGBTQ youth.
The article describes how primary, secondary, intergenerational and collective trauma are intertwined in our lived experience, especially in times of severe stress, such as the current coronavirus pandemic. An argument is made for personal and collective mourning, and for developing an attitude of curiosity, openness, acceptance, and love toward oneself and others who suffer traumatic stress. The foundational lifeline of trust in God is nurtured by the faith and practice of the church through the witness of Scripture, worship, prayer, song, and mutual caring.
Trauma-Informed Systems of Care: The Role of Organizational Culture in the Development of Burnout, Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Compassion Satisfaction