DOMAIN 1: RESILIENCE-BUILDING, STAFF HEALTH, AND WELLNESS
Item 11
Strategies:
- EAPs are available to many agencies and can help provide support to staff in crisis situations as well as in coping with the cumulative toll of STS. It is important that leaders and supervisors know what specific services (e.g., individual and/or group sessions, how many sessions are offered) their EAP provides and how to access these services and that they share this information with staff.
- Ensure that staff can access EAP and mental health services confidentially but also voluntarily (staff should not be required or forced to participate in a group processing session).
Identifying Workplace Supports for Staff
It can be helpful to create a map of workplace supports, such as an Employee Assistance Program and mental health benefits, with details on how staff can access these supports. This could be a 1-2 page resource list that is shared with all staff.
Reducing Stigma
Recognize that there may be stigma related to seeking help and/or mental health services. They therefore should strive to normalize and promote the benefits of the use of these services. Leaders and supervisors can do this by role modeling (using the services themselves and sharing their experience with staff) and by normalizing that taking care of our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health.
Implementation Resources:
Podcasts and Videos
- “Utilizing Your EAP for Secondary Traumatic Stress” (6 minutes), from the Well@Work podcast series from the University of Kentucky Center on Trauma & Children, discusses at what point a staff member might need to seek mental health assistance due to the impact of their work and how to find a provider.
NOTE
For more information on EAPs and how they can be used to enhance staff resilience, refer to Domain 3, “Secondary Trauma-Informed Policies and Procedures” in the STS Blueprint.
Publications
- Refer to “Secondary Traumatic Stress in Child Welfare Practice: Trauma-Informed Guidelines for Organizations,” for guidance on how to choose an STS-trained and informed EAP provider.
Select Action Plan to begin to organize and implement next steps.