Exploring Trauma-Informed Organizational Practices and Self-Care: Strengthening Resilience Factors among Child Welfare Workers

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 public and private agencies. Surveys administered annually from 2020-2023 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 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; 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.