Supporting Parent-Child Relationships: How Dyadic Interventions Help Families in Protective Services

Breakout Session

Supporting Parent-Child Relationships: How Dyadic Interventions Help Families in Protective Services

Date, time, and room location:

Breakout Session E
Date & Time:
Wed, Jun 17, 2026 | 9:00 - 10:00am CDT

Session overview

Track:

Trauma and Resiliency of the Developing Child

Audience level: 

Enhanced

Intended audience:

Anyone who works with young children in the juvenile court system, Attorneys, CASA volunteers, Child welfare professionals, Early childhood mental health professionals, Family support workers, Foster care support workers, Foster parents, Guardians ad Litem, Home visitors, Judges, Medical providers, Mental health providers, Service providers

Session materials: 

This session does not have any session materials currently.

Session Description

Attachment is vital to a young child’s lifelong development. The attachment relationship between a child and their caregiver begins at birth. When protective services are involved, ruptures in relationships happen. It is important to be mindful of the impact of attachment and development when working with young children and their caregivers, especially when concerns arise. This includes promoting the attachment relationship as well as responding to ruptures within a therapeutic and team setting. This session will review the importance of the attachment relationship and how that relationship can promote security for children and their caregivers. It will also address the process of rupture and repair within the parent-child relationship as well as with the professionals working with parents and children in the team environment.

Learning objectives

  1. Gain an understanding of the role of attachment relationships with young children and their caregivers and how relationships promote security for children.
  2. Describe the process of rupture and repair in relationships.
  3. Explain the importance of integrating a therapeutic and team approach in addressing ruptures and repairs with families in protective services.
  4. Recommend and refer evidence-based practices for dyadic treatment of young children.