Trauma Informed Program Assessment/Project: Each student will explore a program/agency (preferably at the agency of their field placement) and describe the extent to which the activities of an agency or program are consistent with the guiding principles of trauma informed practice: safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment and human rights. To complete this assignment, students are expected to assess the aspects of a trauma-informed and human rights perspective(s) within their field agency. This involves the submission of a written assessment of the students perspectives on how the components of trauma informed practice and human rights are operationalized within the agency. The paper will be a minimum of 10 pages in length (excluding cover and reference pages). Students are expected to write at the MSW level and use APA format (font, spacing, etc) with no grammatical errors (significant points will be deducted).
Program assessments are expected to include:
Describe the nature of the issues faced by the target population of clients who seek services from the type of agency or program you are assessing. Pay particular attention to the interrelationship between trauma and human rights in this population. Describe the agency or program that you have assessed, the client population that is served and the nature of social work practice in this setting.
Competency 1 Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior
Competency 2: Engage in Diversity and Difference in Practice
Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Environmental, and Economic Justice
Competency 4: Engage in Practice Informed Research and Research Informed Practice
Competency 5: Engage in Policy Practice
Introduction: Provide a brief description of the agency you are assessing, the population served, and any relevant eligibility criteria for services.
Competency 1:
Safety: To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and policies ensure the physical and emotional safety of consumers and staff? Give examples of how the agency or program ensures physical and emotional safety.
Trustworthiness: To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and practices maximize trustworthiness by making the tasks involved in service delivery clear by ensuring consistence in practice, and by maintaining boundaries that are appropriate to the program? Give examples of how the agency or program establishes task clarity, consistency and interpersonal boundaries between clinicians and clients. Give an example of how safety and trustworthiness align with the NASW Code of Ethics and cite an ethical standard.
Competency 2:
Diversity: How does the program address diverse clients? If the program does not address diversity, discuss what you would change.
Choice: To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and policies maximize consumer experiences of choice and control? Give examples of how you see the agency maximizing consumer choice and control.
Competency 3:
Human Rights: To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and policies protect clients human rights? To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and policies demonstrate knowledge of the effects of oppression, and historical trauma on clients to guide clinical assessment and intervention? To what extent do the programs activities and settings protect staff human rights? How does the agency address diversity? Are the methods being utilized culturally competent? Utilize peer-reviewed literature to support your ideas.
Empowerment: To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and policies prioritize consumer empowerment and growth? Give examples of how the agency or program prioritizes empowerment and skill-building.
Competency 5:
Policy: What policies are in place to help the clients? Are there policies that may be harmful to clients? Why?
Collaboration: To what extent do the programs activities, settings, and policies maximize collaboration and sharing of power between staff and consumers? Give examples of how you see the agency maximizing collaboration and sharing power.
Competency 4:
Case Study: In no more than two paragraphs, provide a brief case study of a client in your field placement who has experienced trauma. Disguise any and all identifying information.
Research: Discuss the evidence-based methods your agency utilizes to address trauma for the type of client you depicted in the case study. Cite at least two peer-reviewed sources that support the use of this method. If your agency is not using evidence-based methods for trauma-informed care, discuss what methods you would use that are efficacious for the agencys population. Support this by citing at least two peer-reviewed journals.
Additional Questions and Conclusions: Interpret and discuss your findings. How would you advocate for improvement / change in social policies and / or agency policies that will enhance client well-being, service delivery, and / or access to social services? According to research, what evidence-based methods would be appropriate to effectively help clients with trauma in your agency? What method would you use to evaluate if trauma is being addressed and if treatment methods are effective?
