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Trauma-informed care training in a child welfare system: Moving it to the front line

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  • Conners-Burrow, Nicola A.
  • Kramer, Teresa L.
  • Sigel, Benjamin A.
  • Helpenstill, Kathy
  • Sievers, Chad
  • McKelvey, Lorraine

Abstract

The use of trauma-informed practices in the child welfare system is critically important to prevent system-induced trauma and encourage timely assessment, triage and referral for care when indicated. Ultimately, such measures have the potential over time to decrease the risk for mental health problems in children exposed to a trauma. This study evaluates an initiative in Arkansas to train child welfare front-line staff members in trauma-informed care practices. We evaluated the impact of the training on knowledge and use of trauma-informed care practices among three types of child welfare staff (Caseworkers, Program Assistants and Other front-line staff). Results suggest that this training process was highly successful in improving knowledge of trauma-informed care practices, especially among staff with the least formal education and training. We also found a significant increase in staff use of trauma-informed care practices at the three-month follow-up with little difference observed across staff groups. Barriers that may prevent staff from full implementation of training concepts are described and strategies to address barriers are proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Conners-Burrow, Nicola A. & Kramer, Teresa L. & Sigel, Benjamin A. & Helpenstill, Kathy & Sievers, Chad & McKelvey, Lorraine, 2013. "Trauma-informed care training in a child welfare system: Moving it to the front line," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(11), pages 1830-1835.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:35:y:2013:i:11:p:1830-1835
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.08.013
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scannapieco, Maria & Hegar, Rebecca L. & Connell-Carrick, Kelli, 2012. "Professionalization in public child welfare: Historical context and workplace outcomes for social workers and non-social workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2170-2178.
    2. Sigel, Benjamin A. & Kramer, Teresa L. & Conners-Burrow, Nicola A. & Church, Janice K. & Worley, Karen B. & Mitrani, Nicholas A., 2013. "Statewide dissemination of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 1023-1029.
    3. Antle, Becky F. & Barbee, Anita P. & van Zyl, Michiel A., 2008. "A comprehensive model for child welfare training evaluation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(9), pages 1063-1080, September.
    4. Franke, Todd & Bagdasaryan, Sofya & Furman, Walter, 2009. "A multivariate analysis of training, education, and readiness for public child welfare practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(12), pages 1330-1336, December.
    5. Collins, Mary Elizabeth, 2008. "Evaluating child welfare training in public agencies: Status and prospects," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 241-246, August.
    6. Kramer, Teresa L. & Sigel, Benjamin A. & Conners-Burrow, Nikki A. & Savary, Patricia E. & Tempel, Ashley, 2013. "A statewide introduction of trauma-informed care in a child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 19-24.
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    1. Lisa Bunting & Lorna Montgomery & Suzanne Mooney & Mandi MacDonald & Stephen Coulter & David Hayes & Gavin Davidson, 2019. "Trauma Informed Child Welfare Systems—A Rapid Evidence Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Clemens, Elysia V. & Klopfenstein, Kristin & Lalonde, Trent L. & Tis, Matt, 2018. "The effects of placement and school stability on academic growth trajectories of students in foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 86-94.
    3. Yang, Mi-Youn & Font, Sarah A. & Ketchum, McKenzie & Kim, Youn Kyoung, 2018. "Intergenerational transmission of child abuse and neglect: Effects of maltreatment type and depressive symptoms," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 364-371.
    4. Bosk, Emily Adlin, 2023. "Creating a parallel process: A new methodological framework for conducting Trauma-Informed Evaluation and Research (TIER) in mental health settings," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Kenny, Maureen C. & Vazquez, Alejandro & Long, Haiying & Thompson, Dawn, 2017. "Implementation and program evaluation of trauma-informed care training across state child advocacy centers: An exploratory study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 15-23.
    6. Alves, Virgínia & Gonçalves, Mariana, 2025. "Trauma-informed practices among psychologists in the portuguese child welfare: Training, implementation, and institutional gaps," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    7. Mazursky, Nofar & Nadan, Yochay, 2025. "Rejection and beyond: How and why LGBTQ+ youth arrive at out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    8. Beehag, Nathan & Dryer, Rachel & McGrath, Andrew & Krägeloh, Chris & Medvedev, Oleg, 2023. "Design and development of the trauma informed care beliefs scale-brief," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    9. Ilchena, Cassidy & Bartel, Hannah L. & Sauvé, Tricia Bailey & Theule, Jennifer, 2024. "The Trauma-informed education knowledge survey: Validation study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    10. Downey, Jordan & Greco, John, 2023. "Trauma sensitive schools: A comprehensive guide for the assessment planning and implementation of trauma informed frameworks," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    11. Damian, April Joy & Gallo, Joseph J. & Mendelson, Tamar, 2018. "Barriers and facilitators for access to mental health services by traumatized youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 273-278.
    12. Furrer, Carrie J. & Rodgers, Angela C. & Cooper, Christine & Rockhill, Anna & Lauzus, Nicole, 2023. "Creating conditions that encourage youth engagement in family child welfare case planning meetings: A youth perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    13. Attrash-Najjar, Afnan & Jacobson, Ma’ayan & Katz, Carmit, 2024. "“I lived but I wasn’t alive”: Examining responses of formal systems to child sexual abuse as described in survivors’ testimonies to the Israeli Independent Public Inquiry," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    14. Jackson, Robin D. & Kethineni, Sesha & Cao, Ying, 2023. "Hopes for healing: An exploratory study of trauma-informed care training and the juvenile justice system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    15. Lotty, Maria & O’Shea, Tadgh & Frederico, Margarita & Kearns, Noreen, 2024. "Exploring the effects of a graduate level trauma-informed care education program for child welfare professionals," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).

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