Secondary Trauma and the Child Welfare Workforce

The Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare recently released a publication on Secondary Trauma and the Child Welfare Workforce.

ABC to handling secondary traumatic stress:

Awareness involves knowing one’s own “trauma map” and triggers, and how trauma work is impacting one’s life and perspective.

Balance refers to allowing one’s self to fully experience emotional reactions, creating and maintaining healthy boundaries between work and personal life, setting realistic goals, practicing time management skills, seeking out new leisure activities, and recognizing and avoiding negative coping skills.
 
Connection means avoiding professional isolation, seeking out and listening to feedback from friends and colleagues, developing support systems and opportunities for debriefing, seeking training to learn new skills and build competence, and maintaining connection to one’s spirituality.