Secondary Trauma for Child Welfare Supervisors eLearning

Level: Advanced Practice – Supervisor, Manager

Credits: 1

Intended Audience: Child Welfare Supervisors and Managers

Description of Course: This one hour eLearning course addresses secondary traumatic stress (STS) for child welfare supervisors and managers and includes strategies to prevent and intervene to mitigate the impact of STS with child welfare staff.

Intended Objectives:

• Define secondary traumatic stress (STS) and its impact on child welfare staff (workers and supervisors)
• Define the terms “Direct Trauma”, “Burn-out, “Compassion Fatigue” and Vicarious Trauma” in relation to STS
• Identify why child welfare staff are vulnerable to STS and the need for child welfare staff to become trauma-informed
• Identify symptoms of secondary trauma in child welfare workers and supervisors
• Identify strategies for preventing the development of STS at the individual and organizational level

Topics Include:

• STS vs. direct trauma
• The difference between STS and burn out, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma
• Symptoms of STS
• STS and child welfare supervisors
• How to prevent STS in child welfare staff
• How to support child welfare staff
• Cultural considerations