Application of Trauma-Informed Practice in San Diego

DEVELOPMENT OFTRAUMA-INFORMEDPRACTICE IN SAN DIEGODebra Zanders-Willis

PARTICIPATION IN THEBREAKTHROUGH SERIESCOLLABORATIVE (BSC)

SAN DIEGO CHILD WELFARE’SPRACTICE MODEL:SAFETY-ORGANIZED PRACTICE THROUGH ATRAUMA INFORMED LENS

Trauma-Informed Practice Training Beginning in the Fall of 2011, The County of SanDiego provided a 6-hour Trauma-Informed practicetraining based on the two-day training from theNational Child Traumatic Stress Network. Over 500social workers received the training and all newincoming social workers receive Trauma-Informedpractice through the training academy Staff trained in Safety–Organized Practice whichincludes 12 modules, 3-hours each

Safety Organized Practice:Core StrategiesTrauma-Informed Practice integrated and infusedto ensure:Family EngagementEnhanced SafetyCritical Thinking

Family Engagement Solution-Focused Questions Giving families choices as much as possible Including the child’s voice in the work Increasing connection to safe and familiar people toensure sustainable safety, wellbeing andpermanency

Enhanced Safety Structured Decision-Making (SDM) tools in all levelsof the work and at critical decision points to ensureconsistent, safe assessments Focus on both physical and psychological safety

Critical Thinking Safety mapping to think through cases Voice of the child, safety networks and parent areincluded in all assessments

Trauma-Informed Practice Tools•All About Me (Infants)•All About Me (Children ages 1-17)•Understanding Child Trauma Brochure(English /Spanish)•Trauma Informed Transitions ResourceParent Letter

Safety-Organized Practice Training January 2012, The County of San Diego beganproviding a series of twelve, three-hour trainings onSafety-Organized Practice to all CWS socialworkers and supervisors This training focuses on elements of solution-focusedpractice, Structured Decision Making (riskassessment tool), and trauma-informed practices Beginning January 2013, all new incoming socialworkers will receive Safety-Organized Practicethrough the training academy

ModuleSafety-Organized Practice Trainings1 Interviewing for Safety and Danger2 Three Questions to Organize Your Practice3 Small Voices, Big Impact: Keeping Children at the Center of the Work4 Solution-focused Inquiry5 Introduction to Mapping6 Harm Statements, Danger Statements and Safety Goals7 Mapping With Families8 Safety Networks9 Safety Planning10 Landing Safety-Organized Practice in Everyday Work11Organizational Environments: Reflection, Appreciation, and OngoingLearning12 Summary and Looking to the Future

Coaching Sessions Each training is followed by coaching sessions andsupervisor Learning Circles to provide learning andpractice opportunities for social workers andsupervisors “Things to Try” tips sheets are given to socialworkers for each module and “Coaching Tip Sheets”are given to each supervisor

Next StepsIntegrate into Practice FrameworkSupport evidenced based trauma treatmentOutreach to community partnersSupport staff in practiceOngoing client input and feedbackScreening and assessments of all children coming into careSupport staff experiencing secondary traumaAgency-wide trauma training