Foster Care Parents To Learn To Help Traumatized Children

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- Foster care parents in Washington County are set to be the first in Maryland trained to help children traumatized by psychological, sexual and physical abuse.

The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reports that the county is preparing to implement Trauma Systems Therapy, which is a comprehensive mental health treatment to help children and teenagers who have been exposed to some form of life-threatening and emotional trauma.

Starting next month, Department of Social Services staff will be trained to implement the program to their foster parents. Foster parents will then begin to be trained in February. There are 74 licensed foster parents in Washington County.

County Department of Social Services Director David A. Engle says that if the program is successful, it could be rolled out into other counties in the state.

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