Abstract: Core Components and Skills for Trauma Informed Practice: Effectiveness of a Workforce Intervention to Increase Evidence Based Trauma Treatment for Children and Families (Society for Social Work and Research 31st Annual Conference)

Schedule:

Saturday, January 23, 2027

Union Station 17 & 18 (Hilton San Francisco Union Square)

* noted as presenting author

Sarah Bledsoe, PhD, Associate Professor, Principal Investigator Health for Every Rural Mother and Fanily (HER) Lab, Co-Director National Initiative for Trauma Education and Workforce Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Virginia Strand, DSW, Co-Director, National Initative for Trauma Education and Workforce Development, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Alexys Wheil, Evaluation Coordinator, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jourdan Denne, Research Assistant, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC

Travis Albritton, PhD, Dean of Community and Commitments, Berea College

Trenette Clark Goings, PhD, Distinguished Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Background: US children and families are experiencing a trauma epidemic. Evidence-based trauma treatments (EBTT) exist, but can take upwards of twenty years to make their way into practice. Focusing on common elements provides a potential solution to increase delivery of EBTT. We recently developed an asynchronous, online training intervention aimed at increasing both confidence and utilization of 12 common trauma informed practice elements (CTIPE), Core Components and Skills for Trauma Informed Practice (CCSTIP). This study aimed to test the effectiveness of CCSTIP in 1) increasing confidence in applying CTIPE and 2) increasing utilization of CTIPE by mental health practitioners.

Methods: Following IRB approval we recruited a convenience sample of 7,197 participants. 5,554 provided informed consent. We collected baseline demographic data and repeated measures data measuring confidence and utilization of CTIPE pre- and post-intervention between 1/2024 and 3/2026. 3,670 post-intervention data completers received 4.5 continuing education credits. CTIPE confidence and utilization 2 self-report 7-point Likert scale questions Paired samples t-tests were conducted to evaluate the effect of CCSTIP on both confidence and utilization, comparing scores pre- and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS.

Results: Of those who started CCSTIP, 96.22% completed the intervention. Participants were primarily mental health providers/trainees (93.5%), 72% had trauma practice experience, and 61% had previous trauma training. Most were 25-44 years old (53.1%), white (57.4%), female (84.4%), had a bachelor’s or master’s degree (83.9%), and were social workers (49.07%). At baseline, most participants (N=5,160) had limited confidence in “applying the 12 CTIPE skillfully” (M=3.63; SD=1.65) and in “applying trauma-informed practice elements” (M=4.25; SD=1.57) where 3=a little bit, 4=sufficiently, and 5=well. Utilization was also low: “applying the 12 CTIPE skillfully” (M= 3.71; SD=1.89) and “apply trauma informed practice elements” (M=4.42; SD=1.80) where 3=occasionally, 4=half the time, and 5=frequently. Paired-samples t-tests (n=3637) showed significant increases in confidence in “applying 12 CTIPE skillfully” from pre-test (M=3.57) to post-test (M=5.85), t=-81.89, p<.001 and “apply trauma informed practice elements” from pre-test (M=4.09) to post-test (M=5.92), t=-70.59, p<.001where 6=moderately well. For utilization, paired-samples t-tests (n=3628) showed a significant increase in “apply 12 CTIPE skillfully” from pre-test (M=3.66) to post-test (M=6.31), t=-77.08, p<.001 and “apply trauma informed practice elements” from pre-test (M=4.35) to post-test (M=6.44), t=-65.78, p<.001where 6=most of the time and 7=always.

Discussion: Even though the majority of participants were either members of the mental health workforce or mental health workforce trainees and had experience working with and/or previous training in trauma practice, the majority of participants still had limited confidence and use of CTIPE or trauma informed practice elements and thereby EBTTs. Results demonstrate that CCSTIP has remarkably high (>95%) completion rates once participants begin the 4.5-hour asynchronous, self-paced online training intervention. Additionally, data effectiveness data demonstrate that completers have significant, meaningful increases in both confidence and intent to apply both CTIPE and trauma informed practice elements. Findings are limited by the quasi-experimental design and lack of long-term follow-up data. However, they support the usefulness of this workforce intervention and its potential to improve both EBTT and workforce health and sustainability.