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TARA Project

TARA Project Cluster Outputs

• Building practitioner resilience – professional supervision environment: TARA Project_Practitioner Resilience: Professional Supervision Environment 
• Trauma-Informed Practice for Children Experiencing Multiple Moves in Foster Care: TARA Project_The Ripple Effect_Transitions in care
• Walking the path together: A Glance card on trauma-informed care collaboration: TARA Project_Communication Cogs Glance Card ; CommunicationCogsbackgrounddocument.pdf
• Time bandits: Sensory Pack: TARA Project_TimeBanditsSensoryPack.pdf
• Time Bandits TARA Whole Team Foster Care Approach: Whole Team Foster Care
• Time Bandits: Bringing Kids Together Groupwork Intervention: BKT

TARA Project Peer-reviewed publications

Phase 1

• Lotty, M., M. Frederico, N. Kearns, and T. O′Shea. 2026. “ Child Welfare Professional Education in Trauma-Informed Care: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Study.”&�Բ�����;Child Abuse Review 35, no. 1: e70101. .
• Lotty, M., O’Shea, T., Frederico, M., & Kearns, N. (2024). Exploring the effects of a graduate level trauma-informed care education program for child welfare professionals. Children and Youth Services Review, 107821.
• Lotty, M., Kearns, N., & Frederico, M. (2024). Integrating Trauma-informed Practices in Child Welfare: A Process Study of Trauma-informed Care Graduate Education. Journal of Child Public Welfare, 1-27.  

TARA Project Phase 1 Research Report

• Lotty, M., Kearns, N., O’Shea, T. and Frederico, M. (2023). ‘Examining the effects of Graduate Trauma-informed Practice Education on Child Welfare Professionals’. Adult Continuing Education, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork: TARA Phase 1 Report
• Webinar: 2024 Launch of the TARA Project Phase One Report: 'Examining the effects of Graduate Trauma-informed Practice Education on Child Welfare Professionals'. Research Report. Available at

TARA Project Presentations/Conferencings

• Lotty, M., McCormack, L., Campbell, N., & Stanley, D., (2025, October 24). ‘Transforming foster care practice: Sharing innovative practices that drive children’s right to stability in foster care’ Oral Paper presented for the 10^th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork.
• Lotty, M. & Price, A. (2025, 28 February). ‘Transforming child welfare practices: exploring co-creation methodological approaches for the TARA Project, Phase 2’. Research Dialogue Seminar - Crossing Disciplines and Specialisms, School of Applied Social Studies, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork. [Invited Speaker]. 
• Lotty, M. (2024, August 19) ‘Integrating Trauma-informed Practices in Irish Child Welfare Practice: Findings from the TARA Project Child Welfare Practice outcomes for Graduate level trauma-informed Education: A Mixed Methods Study.’ [Poster Presentation], ISPCAN International Congress 2024, Sweden .
• Lotty, M. (2024, May 31). ‘A ��ҹ���޸����þ� – Child Welfare Agency Collaboration supporting graduate level professional continuing education: The TARA Project’. Oral paper presented at the 54^th EUCEN (European ��ҹ���޸����þ� Continuing Education Network) International Conference, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork.
• Lotty, M., (2024, May 2). ‘Integrating Trauma-informed Practices in the front-line practice: The TARA (Trauma, Attachment and Resilience into Action) Project: Findings and Learnings’. [keynote speaker] Longford Westmeath CYPSC (Children and Young Peoples Services Committee) Trauma-informed Care Conference, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
• Lotty, M., Mc Cormack, L., Campbell, N.,  Stanley, D., (2024, March 1) ‘Integrating Trauma-informed Practices to support  Child Welfare Best Practice,’ [Keynote Speaker]. Paper presented NUIG and TUSLA, Child and Family Agency Joint Training Programme, online.
• Lotty, M. & O’Donoghue, M. (2023, November 7). ‘Putting Resilience back in the headline towards an integrated holistic practice lens for Child and Families Services beyond a trauma centred lens’ Oral paper presented at the 7^th Unity Through Relationship International Annual Conference 2023, Dublin.
• Lotty, M. & Hayes, M., (2023, October 27). ‘Examining Professional Education in Trauma-informed Practice for Child Welfare and Protection Services: The Trauma, Attachment, Resilience into Action (TARA) Project’ Oral Paper presented for the 9^th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork.
• Lotty, M. (2023, September 24). ‘Moving from knowing to doing: Supporting Trauma-informed practice in the Irish front-line through TARA (Trauma, Attachment and Resilience into Action).’ Oral paper presented at the ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect) International Congress, Edinburgh.

TARA Practice Model

TARA Practice Model related publications

• Lotty, M., (2024 ). Exploring what is old and what is new about Trauma-informed Care: Implications for child welfare practice. Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies Volume 24, (2) 3.  
• Lotty, M., 2023., Supporting Child Welfare Practice through an integrated practice model: Trauma, Attachment and Resilience into Action’, The Irish Social Worker, pp11-22;  
• Lotty, M. (2023). RTE Brainstorm: Here’s the Truth about Resilience. ;  
• Lotty, M. (2021). Making sense of the practice of trauma-informed care: A response to the need to implement trauma-informed care into front-line practice. The Irish Social Worker, 160-171.  

TARA Practice Tools

• Lotty, M. (2023). TARA Practice Model (Trauma, Attachment, Resilience into Action). Zenodo. Available at:  
• Lotty, M. (2024). The Thermometer of Regulation, Available at:  
• Lotty, M. (2024). Understanding the Drivers of Behaviour: Trauma-informed Practice Tool. Available at:  
• Lotty, M. (2025). TARA - The 3Rs of Building Resilience. Zenodo. Available at:
• Lotty, M. (2025). TARA - Build Mentalising Tool. Zenodo. Available at:
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025). TARA - Our Language Reconsidered. Zenodo. Available at:
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025). TARA - Bodily Sensations Vocabulary Tool. Zenodo. Available at: 
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025). TARA - Feelings & Emotions Vocabulary Tool. Zenodo. Available at:
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025). TARA - Regulating Activities. Zenodo. Available at:
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025). TARA - Toolkit of Regulation. Zenodo. Available at:
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025). TARA - Embodiment & Breathing Practices. Zenodo. Available at:
• O'Donoghue, M. (2025) . TARA - Mindfulness Practices. Zenodo. Available at:

Foster Care and Trauma-informed Practice

Foster Care and Trauma-informed Practice

• McCormack, L., Campbell, N. and Lotty, M. (2024) 'Trauma in the foster care system: finding positive ways forward in practice', Foster, 2024(15), pp. 54-63:  
• Lotty, M., McCormack, L., Campbell, L., & Stanley, D. (2024). Transforming the child welfare system from the inside out: Integrating trauma-informed practices into foster care services’ The Irish Social Worker, Winter, pp. 21-37.  
• Lotty, M. (2021). Finding the common ground: families, relationships, and child-focused practice in foster care. Irish Social Worker, 128-146.   
• Lotty, M. (2021). Exploring trauma-informed foster care as a framework to support collaborative social worker-foster carer relationships. Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies, 21(1), 34-51.  
• Lotty, M., Bantry-White, E. & Dunn-Galvin, A. (2021). Trauma-informed care psychoeducational group-based interventions for foster carers and adoptive parents: A narrative review', Adoption and Fostering, 45(2), pp. 191-214. DOI:  
• Lotty, M. (2020). An Exploration of the Role of Trauma-informed Care in Fostering Stability. The Irish Social Worker. Winter, 47-58.  
• Lotty, M. (2020). ‘Teamwork in Mind: Exploring Collaborative Practices in Foster Care as a key component of Trauma-informed Foster Care.’ FOSTER. Issue 9, Ireland. . 

Research Articles relating to Fostering-Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme 

• Lotty, M., Bantry-White, E. and Dunn-Galvin, A., 2022. Towards a more comprehensive understanding of fostering connections: The trauma-informed foster care programme: A mixed methods approach with data integration. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 13(1), pp.1-29.
• Lotty, M., Bantry-White E., & Dunn-Galvin, A. (2022) Development of a Psychoeducational Foster Carer Programme Using the Medical Research Council (MRC) Framework for Complex Interventions, Child Care in Practice, 29(1), 1-15.
• Lotty, M., Bantry-White, E., & Dunn-Galvin, A. (2021). A Qualitative Study in Ireland: Foster Carers and Practitioners Perspectives: on Developing a Trauma-informed Care Foster Carer Psychoeducation Programme, Child in Care Practice, 1-17. DOI:  
• Lotty, M., Bantry-White, E. & Dunn-Galvin, A. (2021). Trauma-informed care psychoeducational group-based interventions for foster carers and adoptive parents: A narrative review', Adoption and Fostering, 45(2), pp. 191-214. DOI:
• Lotty, M. (2020). Trauma-Informed Care Research: Implications for Foster Care Practice. Relational Child and Youth Care Practice, 33(2), 20-39. HYPERLINK "https://cora.ucc.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/7e1cc609-0fcf-4fd8-9dba-0b0dfe191caa/content"https://cora.ucc.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/7e1cc609-0fcf-4fd8-9dba-0b0dfe191caa/content
• Lotty, M., Bantry-White, E., & Dunn-Galvin, A. (2020). The Experiences of Foster carers and Facilitators of Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme: A Process Study. Children and Youth Services Review, 119, 105516. DOI:  
• Lotty, M., Dunn-Galvin, A., & Bantry-White, E. (2020). Effectiveness of a trauma-informed care psychoeducational programme for foster carers–Evaluation of the Fostering Connections Programme. Child Abuse & Neglect, 102.&�Բ�����;�ٰ���:&�Բ�����; 
• Lotty, M. (2019). Fostering stability through ‘Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme.’ FOSTER. Issue 7, Ireland.  

Presentations/Conferencing relating to Fostering Connections

• Lotty, M. (2022, April 22). ‘Realising the Promise: Towards Trauma-informed Practice in the Front-line’ 4^th Joint UCD TUSLA Learning Forum, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Dublin. [Keynote Speaker].
• Lotty, M. (2022, March 9). ‘Exploring if the whole is greater than the sum of its parts? Evaluating Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme through a mixed methods approach.’ Paper presented at the 9th Annual Social Work and Social Care Research in Practice Interactive Virtual Conference, Health and Social Care Board, Belfast, online.
• Lotty, M. (2021, November 6) ‘Exploring the transition of childhood to adolescence through the lens of Trauma-informed Foster Care: What does that look like?’ [Invited speaker], Irish Foster Care Association Annual National Conference, online.
• Lotty, M. (2021, October 22). ‘Finding the Common Ground: families, relationships, and child-focused practice in foster care.’ Paper presented at the 8^th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork, online.
• Lotty, M. (2021, October 13). ‘Responding to children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma through Trauma-informed care: What do you need in your Toolkit?’ Social Care Ireland’s Annual Conference (online).
• Lotty, M. (2021, June 7). ‘Key messages from an evaluation of Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme.’ Paper presented at the IPSCAN International Congress, Milan, Italy, online.
• Lotty, M. & Lynch, S. (2020, November 6). ‘Stuck in the Middle. Making Sense of Being Part of Two Families.’ Paper presented at the Irish Foster Care Association Annual National Conference, online.
• Lotty, M. (2019, November 29). ‘Informing our Practice through Research: Does Trauma-informed Care improve outcomes for children in foster care?’ Paper presented at the TUSLA, Enhancing Practice with Parents and Families: How ACEs inform our work Conference Limerick, Children’s, and Young People’s Service Committee Parenting Conference (Invited speaker).
• Lotty, M. (2019, November 11). ‘Getting to the heart of the matter: Fostering Connections builds relationships that support children and young people’s development and healing from trauma.’ Paper presented at the 6^th Unity Through Relationship International Annual Conference 2019, Dublin.
• Lotty, M. (2019, November 5). ‘Implementing Trauma-informed Care in the Child Welfare System: Lessons learned from the evaluation of Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Foster Care Programme.’ Trauma-informed Care in Practice Conference, The Richmond Centre, Dublin.
• Lotty, M. (2019, November 1). ‘Teamwork in Mind: Supporting foster carers in communicating care through the foster carer-social worker relationships.’ Paper presented at the Irish Foster Care Association Annual National Conference, Limerick.
• Lotty, M. (2019, October 25). ‘Putting the Hope back into Social Work: Achieving better outcomes for children in Foster care via Trauma-informed Foster Care’. Paper presented at the 7^th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, ��ҹ���޸����þ� College Cork.
• Lotty, M. (2019, June 13). ‘Supporting the foster family caring for children with increasingly challenging needs through practitioner-carer based practice.’ Paper presented at the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Child and Family Research Centre 9^th Biennial International Conference, National ��ҹ���޸����þ� of Ireland, Galway.
• Lotty, M. (2018, July 7). ‘Building Relationships through Fostering Connections: Packing the Practitioner's �մǴDZ��쾱��.’ Paper presented at the Social Work Educational and Social Development International Conference Dublin.
• Lotty, M. (2018, July 2). ‘Does Fostering Connections: The Trauma-informed Care Foster Care Programme deliver? Let us examine the evidence.’ Paper presented at Decisions, Assessment, Risk and Evidence (DARE) in Social Work 5^th International Symposium, ��ҹ���޸����þ� of Belfast.
• Lotty, M. (2017, November 24). 'Fostering Connections: Relational Practices in Foster Care.’ Paper presented at the 4^th Unity Through Relationship International Annual Conference 2017, Dublin.
• Lotty, M. (2018, November 2). ‘Carving Pathways to Fostering Stability via the Carer-Child Relationship: Exploring a Toolkit for Carers of Children who have experienced Trauma.’ Paper presented at the Irish Foster Care Association Annual National Conference, Limerick.
• Lotty, M., (2016, November 7). 'Research to Practice: Trauma-informed Care in Foster Care.’ Paper presented at the 3^rd Unity Through Relationship International Annual Conference 2016, Dublin.