Vicarious Trauma in Child Welfare Workers: A Study of Organizational Responses

Abstract

Child welfare is provided within an organizational context that both supports and thwarts the efforts of workers and administrators to meet the myriad of goals established by federal, state, and local regulation and professional bodies. As the field moves toward trauma-informed services for children and families (Ko et al., 2008), the effect of trauma on workers has received less agency attention (Middleton & Potter, 2015). This exploratory, qualitative study examines the level of knowledge administrators have regarding vicarious trauma and probes the organizational responses of public child welfare agencies to the vicarious trauma experienced by workers.

Keywords::

• Vicarious trauma
• organizations/systems
• workforce issues
• leadership
• administration and supervision

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eileen Anne Dombo

Eileen Anne Dombo, PhD, LICSW is Associate Professor, Assistant Dean, and MSW Program Chairperson at the National Catholic School of Social Service, The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

Wendy Whiting Blome

Wendy Whiting Blome, PhD, LICSW, is Associate Professor at the National Catholic School of Social Service at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.