Trauma Informed Care training needs and perceptions among school and social work staff in a K-12 educational setting
Start Date
April 2025
Location
2nd floor - Library
Abstract
Nearly 50% of juveniles in urban areas have experienced one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE); 10% also experienced at least 4 ACEs before adulthood (Whiteside-Mansell et al., 2019). Exposure from ACEs leads to stress and trauma, which left unaddressed may result in emotions and behaviors that make it difficult to thrive in academic settings. Social work staff (SW) and school staff (SS) work jointly to target this barrier to wellness. Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an evidence-based method that recognizes expressions of trauma- internally and externally- to personalize supportive interventions and avoid re-traumatization. This study explores needs and perceptions among SW and SS regarding TIC training. Convenience sample survey data from SS at one Cincinnati Public School and SW from Butterfly Support Services were collected (3/10/2025-4/4/2025). Means are reported. Results show that 75% of SW staff (n=8) are trained in TIC and 89% agree they are familiar. In comparison, 67% of SS staff (n=15) were trained and 67% agree they are familiar. SW and SS have 94% and 84% agreement, respectively, that TIC training would be beneficial. 69% of SS agreed that their personal emotions were affected by negative student behavior and 72% believed they had a student that could not be helped with available resources. SW and SS show high positive attitudes towards TIC training. SS more strongly agree there are students that could not be helped within their means and SS were more likely to be emotionally affected by negative student behaviors. Larger scale study is needed.
Trauma Informed Care training needs and perceptions among school and social work staff in a K-12 educational setting
2nd floor - Library
Nearly 50% of juveniles in urban areas have experienced one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE); 10% also experienced at least 4 ACEs before adulthood (Whiteside-Mansell et al., 2019). Exposure from ACEs leads to stress and trauma, which left unaddressed may result in emotions and behaviors that make it difficult to thrive in academic settings. Social work staff (SW) and school staff (SS) work jointly to target this barrier to wellness. Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is an evidence-based method that recognizes expressions of trauma- internally and externally- to personalize supportive interventions and avoid re-traumatization. This study explores needs and perceptions among SW and SS regarding TIC training. Convenience sample survey data from SS at one Cincinnati Public School and SW from Butterfly Support Services were collected (3/10/2025-4/4/2025). Means are reported. Results show that 75% of SW staff (n=8) are trained in TIC and 89% agree they are familiar. In comparison, 67% of SS staff (n=15) were trained and 67% agree they are familiar. SW and SS have 94% and 84% agreement, respectively, that TIC training would be beneficial. 69% of SS agreed that their personal emotions were affected by negative student behavior and 72% believed they had a student that could not be helped with available resources. SW and SS show high positive attitudes towards TIC training. SS more strongly agree there are students that could not be helped within their means and SS were more likely to be emotionally affected by negative student behaviors. Larger scale study is needed.
