SSR Seminar Series: Trauma-Informed Intervention for Foster Families
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- This is a physical seminar event.
- Registration slots will be assigned on a first-come, first served basis.
- Please register by 14 May 2025. Successful registrants will be informed from 15 May 2025 via email.
- Unsuccessful registrants will be placed on a waitlist and will be informed via email should a place be made available.
- In the event when you cannot make it after receiving the email confirmation, please let us know as soon as possible via email so that others can get a chance to attend the event.
Seminar Details
The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) reported a rise in the number of foster families in the system from 29% in 2013 to 51% in 2021, charting an increasing need for support for these foster families. To address this need and provide foster children (FC) with a safe family environment, many programmes have been implemented since. However, there are still critical gaps in trauma-informed care that result in frequent and unstable placement changes, which are associated with externalising and internalising behaviour problems and attachment issues. Epworth Community Services launched a 5-year trauma-informed intervention for foster families in 2021, aiming to enhance placement stability through addressing challenging behaviours displayed by FC, strengthening FC’s emotion regulation skills, and bolstering the self-efficacy of foster parents (FPs). This pilot study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the aforementioned programme. Adopting a mixed-methods design, this study involved 9 FC and FPs pairs who had undergone the pilot phase of the programme. Pre- and post-tests with behavioural and emotional measures captured improvements in FC’s behaviour function and emotion regulation, as well as improvements in the parent-child relationship. The findings from this study contribute to the national and global discourse on trauma-informed interventions for foster families in Singapore.
Assistant Psychologist,
Centre for Positive Recovery
Epworth Community Services
Assistant Psychologist,
Centre for Positive Recovery
Epworth Community Services
Ms. Diong Zoe Yi is an Assistant Psychologist at Centre for Positive Recovery (CPR) under Epworth Community Services. She is deeply passionate about trauma work, and finds it meaningful to work with children and adolescents who have experienced adverse childhood experiences, along with their caregivers. Utilising trauma-informed approaches and interventions, Zoe Yi aims to instill hope, resilience and joy in her clients.
Zoe Yi graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Psychology from the National University of Singapore. Her research experiences were largely focused on children, revolving around children’s developmental processes (e.g., theory of mind) and personality traits. She was previously also a research intern with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC). Her other research interests include exploring other evidence-based treatments for trauma in the context of Singapore. Zoe Yi hopes to continue honing her skills in trauma work, and to eventually build a more inclusive society through her research and clinical practice.
Mr. Javiar Lim is an Assistant Psychologist with the Centre for Positive Recovery (CPR), an initiative by Epworth Community Services. Javiar adopts a trauma-informed approach with reference from the principles of evidence-based approaches. He works closely with both children who have been through adverse childhood experiences and their parents to improve their communication and relationships. Javiar also collaborates with other professionals involved in the care of the family to deliver a holistic intervention tailored for each family.
Javiar graduated with a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Psychology from the National University of Singapore (NUS). He then worked with adults recovering from mental health disorders at the Singapore Association for Mental Health Group Homes before transitioning to his current role at CPR. Javiar’s current research interests include the effects of childhood trauma on adult mental health in Singapore, and also the efficacies of various coping strategies in reducing trauma symptoms and anxiety.
Adjunct Faculty
National University of Singapore;
Senior Consultant,
EveryChild.sg
Dr Hana Alhadad is an adjunct faculty at the National University of Singapore and a Senior Consultant at EveryChild.sg. Hana has extensive experience in community development and psychology and is currently focusing on supporting neurodivergent children and families, single mothers and victim-survivors of family violence, and wellbeing of children and youth. Her current research interests covers equity-centred, trauma-informed education and practice, child and adolescent mental health, parent-child relationships and development.