Stress and Secondary Trauma

Building a Resilient Workforce

Nebraska Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) is a state-operated child welfare system. The Division is housed in the Department of Health and Human services and is divided into five service areas. DCFS has about 400 frontline child welfare workers (Child and Family Services Specialists or CFSS), 70 supervisors, and 15 field administrators. In 2017, DCFS had an annual turnover rate of about 30%. They applied to be a QIC-WD site with the goal of strengthening their child welfare workforce.

The Restoring Resiliency Response(R) : Addressing Work-related Trauma in Nebraska

Restoring Resiliency Response ® is being piloted in Nebraska to address work-related traumatic stress through therapeutic sessions.

Watch the Video

Background

Exploration of Needs

What is Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and why was an intervention designed to address it?

Several workforce challenges were discussed as opportunities for intervention during the needs assessment process conducted partnership with the Nebraska Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) to address child welfare workforce turnover.

The Implementation Team

Coach Ohio: A Supportive Supervision and Resiliency Intervention

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services partnered with select counties to implement a supportive supervision and resiliency intervention. This video highlights the experience of workers, supervisors, and administrators who were involved in Coach Ohio, their intervention to support the child welfare workforce.

Watch the Video

Coping with Secondary Traumatic Stress

This video features child welfare workers and supervisors discussing the coping skills they use to address secondary traumatic stress (STS).

Watch the Video

Impact of Secondary Traumatic Stress on the Child Welfare Workforce

This video features child welfare workers and supervisors discussing how work-related secondary traumatic stress (STS) impacts them personally and professionally.

Watch the Video