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Exploring trauma-informed organizational practices and self-care: Strengthening resilience factors among child
Shelby L Clark1, Brennan Miller2, Becci A Akin2
1College of Social Work, University of Kentucky.
Objective:
Child welfare workers are at risk of secondary traumatic stress as a consequence of their work. Self-care strategies could help mitigate negative symptoms, improve well-being, and enhance resilience. This study explored associations between trauma-informed organizational practices and self-care behaviors among child welfare workers.
Method:
Data were collected in a Midwestern state, using an online, repeated cross-sectional survey. Participants were child welfare workers from the public and private agencies. Surveys administered annually from 2020 to 2023 measured organizational activities, safety practices, and leadership practices. Self-care was assessed in terms of the number and frequency of self-care activities. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the associations between organizational practices and self-care, accounting for missing data.
Results:
This exploratory study found three types of trauma-informed organizational practices had positive and significant associations with both the number and frequency of self-care activities. Specifically, resilience-building activities (b = 0.04, p < .001), safety practices (b = 0.04, p < .001), and leadership practices (b = 0.04, p < .001) were linked to greater engagement in self-care. Additionally, these practices were associated with more frequent self-care (organizational resilience-building: b = 0.18, p < .001; safety practices: b = 0.16, p < .001; and leadership practices: b = 0.10, p < .001).
Conclusions:
Organizational strategies, including resilience-building, promoting safety, and supportive leadership, may influence workers' self-care behaviors. Findings suggest systemic changes are needed to enhance resilience, mitigate secondary traumatic stress, and improve retention. Future research should explore long-term impacts of organizational practices on job satisfaction, retention, and well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
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