A practitioner is completing an assessment with a child who recently experienced a traumatic event.

Trauma-informed care is a cornerstone of supporting health and wellness in the CFRP framework. When a child who has experienced a traumatic event avoids discussing it during an assessment, the practitioner should allow the child to disclose at their own pace, respecting their emotional readiness and avoiding re-traumatization. The CFRP study guide emphasizes, “In trauma-informed assessments, practitioners should allow children to disclose details of traumatic events at their own pace to ensure safety and trust.” Asking the parent (option A) may be a secondary step but bypasses the child’s autonomy. Referring to a therapist (option C) or continuing questioning (option D) may be premature or harmful without first establishing trust.

CFRP Study Guide (Section on Supporting Health and Wellness): “When a child avoids discussing a traumatic event during assessment, practitioners should allow disclosure at the child’s own pace, prioritizing safety and trust in trauma-informed care.”