Addressing STS is a journey, not a destination, and is something that needs to be attended to on an ongoing basis—not just a box to check to say that STS has been addressed. Very few, if any, organizations are implementing all or even most recommended STS strategies. It is important to keep in mind that organizations will be at different stages in their efforts to address STS; choosing to prioritize one domain and one step at a time can help this process feel more manageable. The fact that the organization is focusing on STS is a positive first step—this sends the message to staff that leadership cares about them and their well-being.
Secondary Traumatic Stress-Informed Organizational Assessment (STSI-OA)
The six domains in the STS Blueprint are based on the Secondary Traumatic Stress Informed Organizational Assessment,47 with some adaptations. The STSI-OA is a 40-item assessment tool that can be used by any level of staff within an organization to evaluate the degree to which their organization is STS informed. It can be downloaded for free upon request at: https://www.uky.edu/ctac/stsioa
We recommend that organizations use the STSI-OA as a baseline measure, prior to beginning the STS Blueprint, to get a sense of how they are doing across the six domains and identify areas of strength and challenge. The STSI-OA can also be used to monitor progress over time. The STSI-OA results, in addition to input from CAC staff, can be used to prioritize areas of focus and in selecting which domain to start with. From this point, you would select the corresponding domain in the STS Blueprint, which contains rating tools and strategies for implementing STS-informed policies and practices at your CAC.
The following table compares the domains in the STSI-OA with the STS Blueprint domains found in this tool.
| STSI-OA Domains STS Blueprint Domains | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Promotion of Resilience-Building Activities | Resilience Building and Staff Health and Wellness |
| 2 | Promotion of a Sense of Safety | Creating and Sustaining a Safe and Supportive Culture |
| 3 | STS-Informed Organizational Policies | STS-Informed Organizational Policies and Procedures |
| 4 | STS-Informed Leadership | STS-Informed Leadership and Supervision |
| 5 | STS-Informed Organizational Practice | STS-Informed Training |
| 6 | Evaluation and Monitoring of STS Policies and Practices | Organizational Evaluation and Monitoring |
The Structure of Each Domain
Each domain within the STS Blueprint includes the following sections:
- Overview: The overview briefly defines the domain and why it is important, including supporting research related to the domain.
- Rating Tool: This assessment tool is specific to the domain that allows you to review your organization and identify specific areas of strength and challenge that need to be addressed. Each item in the rating tool directly corresponds to strategies.
- Strategies and Implementation Resources: The strategies include recommendations for implementing STS-informed practices relevant to the domain. In addition, “Implementation Resources” (such as podcasts and videos, online learning, and so forth) are included to assist CACs in how to implement the suggested strategies.
- Action Plan: The action plan is a downloadable template for CACs to create step-by-step plans to address challenges in the chosen domain. A sample action plan is also included for reference.
- Considerations for MDTs: Each domain will include a bulleted list of ways that your organization can engage with MDTs when developing and implementing an action plan for the chosen domain.
- References: The references correspond to the endnotes that appear throughout the domains.
- Resources: Some domains may contain additional resources or link to additional information relevant to the domain.