Benchmarks has implemented 2 projects across the state over the past 12 years, Partnering for Excellence (PFE) and the Standardized Assessment Protocol (SAP). Both projects are implemented within County DSS offices with a goal of ensuring children and families in child welfare have access to trauma screening and subsequent Trauma-intensive Comprehensive Clinical Assessments (TiCCAs). Having access to TiCCAs provides an opportunity for the child and family to receive holistic recommendations for services and treatments extending beyond mental and behavioral health. Furthermore, both projects intentionally promote trauma-informed culture change within DSSs themselves as well as within the other systems that support them. One way that this culture change is promoted is by conducting trainings utilizing the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s (NCTSN) Trauma Training Toolkit for Child Welfare Professionals curriculum. These trauma trainings are designed for all professionals within the child welfare system. The curriculum provides general knowledge and team activities to promote trauma-informed culture change within the agency, and encourages trauma-informed interactions with children, youth, and families. Even before the NCTSN training begins, Implementation Coordinators are co-located within the County DSS offices.
Co-location of the Project Coordinator is designed to be ongoing throughout the project within each county from the beginning stages of implementation. Co-location consists of having the Implementation Coordinator on site at each County DSS office at least once per week. This designated time allows staff to sit down face-to-face with the Coordinator to discuss cases where they may need assistance using a trauma-informed lens. These situations can include discussing developmentally appropriate ways to discuss topics with children, parents, other family members, and other community partners. Consultation can include role plays between the social worker and Coordinator to discuss and troubleshoot the most trauma-informed way to respond to a difficult situation. Coordinators also provide project related support to social workers during co-location.
Project specific support during trauma-informed consultation at the County DSS offices includes helping children receive TiCCAs in a timely manner. This type of support includes assisting social workers with processing and scoring trauma screening results, the TiCCA referral processes, and helping social workers to make the shift towards overall trauma-informed culture change. In addition, this culture change can provide unique opportunities for social workers to educate resource parents on trauma responses to children in foster care- an additional way to move forward the recommendations outlined in the TiCCA. Trauma-informed consultation allows the Implementation Coordinator to model a trauma-informed lens and work within the context of relationships with DSS social workers, supervisors, and administration.
Creating a safe space for social workers to ask questions and feel supported with their trauma-informed journey is essential. Benchmarks strives to provide this support throughout project implementation. Supporting DSS staff in creating and maintaining a trauma-informed agency and promoting trauma-informed work to help each child and family reach their full potential is one of our main goals.
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