What is it about?

This study assesses the effectiveness of trauma-informed care (TIC) training for workers at child advocacy centers (CACs) in Florida. The training aimed to enhance workers' understanding of trauma's impact on children and how to provide care that avoids re-traumatization. Using pre-training, post-training, and one-year follow-up assessments, the study shows that participants significantly improved their TIC knowledge, and many retained it over time. The findings also highlight the importance of ongoing training to maintain skills and knowledge in TIC practices.

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Why is it important?

Trauma-informed care ensures that child abuse survivors receive support that promotes healing without causing additional harm. This research highlights the need for consistent training across all CAC staff, including non-clinical workers, to build a trauma-sensitive environment. By providing evidence of the training's impact, this study supports implementing more widespread TIC training to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and their families.

Perspectives

This work underscores the importance of empowering professionals who interact with child abuse survivors to provide care that promotes healing. We believe that consistent and accessible training for all staff levels, including those in non-clinical roles, is essential for creating a trauma-informed system that better serves children and families in need. Our hope is that this research inspires more organizations to invest in TIC training to support the recovery and resilience of trauma survivors.

Dr. Alejandro L. Vázquez
University of Tennessee Knoxville

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Implementation and program evaluation of trauma-informed care training across state child advocacy centers: An exploratory study, Children and Youth Services Review, February 2017, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.11.030.
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