The Impact of a Trauma-informed Intervention on Violence Rates among Juvenile Detainees (1 CE)

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologists, Counselors, Nurses, and Marriage and Family Therapists

Course By: Julie Laken Harnisher, Ph.D.

Content By: Baetz, C.L., Surko, M., Moaveni, M., McNair, et al. (2019). Impact of a trauma-informed intervention for youth and staff on rates of violence in juvenile detention settings. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 

Course Description: The vast majority of youth in the juvenile justice system have had prior exposure to traumatic events. The negative consequences of trauma on emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development are widespread. Increased knowledge relative to the mental health needs of youth in the criminal justice system has led to a rise in trauma-informed care. The accompanying study examined the impact of a two-pronged intervention (trauma-informed training for staff and a skills group for youth) on violence rates in two secure juvenile detention facilities. Resultant statistical analyses indicated that staff training, combined with a skills group program for youth, had a significant impact on violence rates at one facility. Trauma-informed care was also more effective at initiating facility-level change once a threshold percentage of the population had received the intervention.

Learning Objectives:

1. Articulate why a study of the impact of a trauma-informed intervention for youth and staff on violence rates in juvenile detention settings was necessary in consideration of the state of the literature
2. Analyze the data and the concomitant results
3. Appraise the main study conclusions in consideration of the resultant statistical findings
4. Integrate the discussed study limitations with the three identified study findings and the areas suggested for future research
5. Generalize the possibility of applying the three primary findings regarding the impact of trauma-informed interventions on violence rates among juvenile detainees to youth other juvenile detention settings

Course Outline:

1. Read and understand Impact of a trauma-informed intervention for youth and staff on rates of violence in juvenile detention settings
2. Read the Course Description and Learning Objectives
3. Understand the relationship between trauma-informed interventions for both youth and staff members and subsequent rates of violence in juvenile detention settings
4. Work through the post-test questions; answer selections should be derived from the accompanying article
5. Return to the referenced article for any missed questions and/or to further understand the impact of trauma-informed interventions on rates of violence in juvenile detention settings

Approvals: