9:45 – 10:45am
Trauma-informed care is frequently discussed as a best practice in meeting the needs of adolescents with multi-system involvement (e.g., child welfare and/or juvenile justice) and is offered as an organizing framework for service delivery. While trauma needs are high among many adolescents, the benefits of trauma-specific treatments in supporting delinquency risk reduction are not well understood. Paradoxically, some adolescents who are identified as engaging in very serious aggression/violence have also experienced the highest levels of lifetime traumatic event exposures and associated sequelae.
In this keynote address, Dr. Keith Cruise will unpack and explain the term “complex trauma.” Complex trauma will be offered as an explanatory factor to better understand the dysregulated behavior of adolescents with multi-system involvement. Using a trauma lens – and careful attention to the developmental impact of trauma – practitioners can gain a richer understanding of complex cases, outline potential paths for recovery, and support a collaborative approach to relationship building that can shift an adolescent’s trajectory from reactivity to recovery.
About the Speaker
Keith Cruise, PhD
Professor of Psychology, Fordham University
Co-Director, Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice
Keith Cruise is a Professor of Psychology at Fordham University. His research focuses on clinical-forensic assessment of adolescents experiencing justice involvement including specialized risk/needs assessment, mental health screening, and the impact of trauma on delinquent behavior. Dr. Cruise also conducts forensic evaluations, provides expert testimony, and offers technical assistance to juvenile justice systems. As Co-Principal Investigator on an OJJDP grant, he has studied the impact of trauma screening on service and legal outcomes for adolescents experiencing juvenile justice system involvement.
Dr. Cruise also serves as Co-Director of the Center for Trauma Recovery and Juvenile Justice, a training and technical assistance organization affiliated with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
