Secondary Trauma and Child Welfare Staff: Guidance for Supervisors and Administrators

Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) is the “emotional duress that results when an individual hears about the firsthand trauma experiences of another person.” Those who work in child welfare organization are at very high risk of developing STS, which when left untreated, can negatively affect their ability to continue their extremely important work. This factsheet provides on how STS manifests itself in child welfare, the kinds of staff who are at risk for STS, and strategies for prevention and intervention STS.