Assessing Trauma-Informed Care Readiness in Behavioral Health: An Organizational Case Study

Abstract

Objective: In this organizational case study the authors pilot a new protocol for evaluating and developing trauma-informed care in behavioral health settings. Methods: A mixed methods design was used to collect data with three instruments: the Adverse Childhood Experiences, the Consumer Perceptions of Care, and the Community Readiness Model key informant interview. Adults (N = 138) in a behavioral health residential treatment program provided a consumer perspective on trauma and integrated services. Providing the staff perspective, key informant interviews of staff (N = 7) were conducted and the overall protocol's utility was assessed. Results: Results indicate the protocol is an efficient, strength-based, and culturally sensitive assessment approach that provided valuable data about the agency's prevalence of consumer trauma, level of integrated trauma-informed services, and readiness to advance a trauma-informed organizational culture. The piloted protocol also fostered understanding of trauma-informed care principles among staff and improved awareness of how to enhance the level of trauma-informed services at their agency. Conclusions: In addition to providing assessment data, the protocol helped agency staff and leadership to fully engage and mobilize toward change. Further application of this tool and future research are discussed. (Journal of Dual Diagnosis, 7:228-241, 2011)

Health Professionals’ Experiences of Providing Trauma-Informed Care in Acute Psychiatric Inpatient Settings: A Scoping Review

“…These insights further strengthened health professionals’ recognition of the benefits to implementing a trauma-informed approach. This is consistent with previous research that shows health professionals are more supportive of providing a safer environment for consumers when they are aware of the effects of trauma and violence (Farro et al, 2011; Hopper et al, 2010).…”

An evaluation of a trauma‐informed educational intervention to enhance therapeutic engagement and reduce coercive practices in a child and adolescent inpatient mental health unit

“…Findings from this study suggest that the educational sessions helped staff understand the significance of past trauma and allowed them to view current behaviour or emotional responses by young inpatient service users with greater understanding. This finding is consistent with the broader literature which has shown that TIP education can positively impact staff knowledge, attitudes, language and practices (Akin et al., 2021; Baker et al., 2018; Connell et al., 2019; Farro et al., 2011; Lang et al., 2016; Palfrey et al., 2019). Experts suggest that education should include the principles of TIP, integrated into practice (Bowen & Murshid, 2016; Guha et al., 2022; Shier and Turpin, 2017).…”

Foundational Knowledge and Other Predictors of Commitment to Trauma-Informed Care

“…In a study on the adoption of cognitive therapy among clinicians, workload (excessive paperwork) and productivity requirements were found to be the most predictive barriers to implementation (Stirman et al, 2013). Farro, Clark, and Hopkins-Eyles (2011) determined that perception of available resources created a lower sense of readiness despite an understanding of and ability to deliver trauma-informed services.…”

“…This comprehensive assessment involves case file review, review of agency records, interviews, and focus groups. According to Farro et al (2011), "This instrument provides a gold standard assessment that has defined trauma-informed care and provided one of the first in-depth assessments of trauma-informed practices" (p. 230).…”