Volume 13, Issue 1, Jan 2025 Evidence in Action A quarterly research brief from the Center on Trauma and Children

Indirect exposure to trauma can negatively impact the well-being of school personnel and the students they serve. This study investigates the role individual, leadership, and organizational characteristics play in producing potential changes in burnout and secondary trauma in K-12 school personnel from baseline to post-trauma-informed care initiative. Data from the Professional Quality of Life-5 (ProQOL-5), the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) and the STS-Informed   Organizational Assessment (STSI-OA) was collected from 205 school personnel (e.g. teachers, counselors, school leaders, and other staff) at two time points. General linear mixed modeling indicates mean scores on the abovementioned measures improved from baseline to post-initiative. Participants with lower STS related arousal showed an increase in burnout over time, while participants with high levels of arousal showed a decrease. Professionals with more years of experience reported lower levels of burnout. Additionally, burnout decreased as levels of engaged leadership and STSI-OA organizational practices toward being more STS-informed increased over time in participating organizations. The findings highlight the relationship between how efforts to decrease occupational trauma and stress and leadership involvement in those efforts can be harnessed to improve the well-being of school personnel.

1.  Implement Trauma-Informed Judicial Practices: Use structured trauma assessments to guide decision making and train judges and court personnel in trauma-informed care to ensure sensitive handling of cases.  

2.  Enhance Cross-System Collaboration: Foster partnerships between courts, child welfare, law enforcement, and mental health providers.  

3.  Increase Specialized Resources: Expand access to therapeutic housing and trauma-focused mental health services tailored for trafficking survivors.  

4.  Provide Education and Training: Mandate training on child sex trafficking and trauma-informed care across sectors and incorporate awareness programs in undergraduate and professional education.  

5.  Advocate for Policy and Funding Reforms: Align Safe Harbor laws with adequate funding for services and strengthen penalties for traffickers and buyers to deter exploitation.