Supporting Youth and Families When Safety Feels Uncertain
Recently, many children and families in our communities have been experiencing heightened fear and uncertainty amid immigration-related developments.
As clinicians working in school settings, we are observing this firsthand. Even when these topics are not being directly discussed by caregivers, children are always absorbing information. They are gathering details in real time through social media, conversations with peers, and by listening to the adults around them process what is happening in our world. These fears can impact not only immigrant families, but also classmates, friends, and entire communities who may worry about separation, safety, and stability. Many young people are quietly wondering, “Am I safe? Are my friends and family safe?”
For children and families who have previously experienced trauma or other stressors, this uncertainty and perceived lack of safety can be especially triggering. This may present as increased or escalated behaviors, greater connection-seeking or nurturance-seeking, or even dissociative shutdown.
At Wellpoint Care Network, we envision a world where all children and families can thrive. Right now, many in our communities need us to intentionally apply a trauma-informed lens to strengthen connection and support. We can do this through our Seven Essential Ingredients (7ei) framework.
At this moment, one of the most important ingredients is Relationship. We may not have all the answers or even feel overwhelmed ourselves, but we do have strong relationships with the children and families we serve. Research consistently shows that safe, stable relationships can buffer the effects of trauma, even when we cannot prevent the trauma itself.
So, what might intentionally leaning into relationships look like right now?
Create safety wherever possible
- Maintain routines and consistency to provide predictability.
- Support emotional safety by:
- Making space for children and families to openly share their feelings.
- Validating emotions such as fear, anger, and anxiety without minimizing or dismissing them.
- Listening without judgment or offering false reassurance.
- Explicitly checking in about feelings around safety on a daily basis (perhaps at a consistent time, as well).
- Helping children to identify accessible, safe people and spaces (e.g. a place at home and/or school that offers security and sensory tools or comforting items).
- Increasing opportunities for regulation and connection
- Flexibility and compassion when challenges arise, recognizing that survival responses can impact engagement.
Approach behavior with curiosity
- When new or changing behaviors arise, pause to ask: “What might be happening for this child or family?”
- Consider how you can create space for individuals to express needs, ask for support, or feel understood.
This commitment to trauma-informed practice helps create environments where children and families can feel seen, supported, and safe – even during uncertain times.
If you have any questions or feel like you need additional support, you can reach out to Wellpoint Care Network’s Mental Health Clinic at any time.
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