Mapping Trauma Exposure in Community Violence Intervention Programs: A Scoping Review With Pilot Data Integration

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Psychology
• Social Work

Background:

• Community violence intervention (CVI) programs face challenges with workforce well-being due to repeated exposure to trauma.
• Existing research on indirect trauma in CVI practitioners is limited, focusing narrowly on frontline roles and lacking consistent definitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address gaps in understanding workforce-wide stress and organizational support within CVI programs.
• To examine secondary traumatic stress (STS) and professional quality of life (ProQOL) among CVI practitioners.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of literature published between 2000-2024 was conducted using seven databases and Google Scholar.
• A pilot survey assessed STS and ProQOL in 75 CVI practitioners across various roles.
• Inclusion criteria focused on empirical or conceptual articles on indirect trauma in CVI settings.

Main Results:

• The scoping review identified inconsistent terminology and limited data on workforce-wide stress and organizational support.
• Pilot survey results indicated high levels of stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue among CVI practitioners.
• Despite access to training and peer support, practitioners reported significant emotional burdens.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for standardized measurement tools for indirect trauma in CVI settings.
• Larger, more representative samples are required to fully understand the scope of stress and support needs.
• Implementing stronger trauma-informed organizational practices is essential for CVI workforce sustainability.