Evaluation of a Simulation-Based Training Program on Childhood Trauma with Occupational Therapy Students

An educational and simulation-based training model, the Professional ACEs-Informed Training for Health Professionals designed for allied health students was evaluated using a pre-and-post design. The training model emphasizes trauma-informed care and uses social simulation to educate and train students with skills to address adverse childhood experiences. This study evaluated occupational therapy students’ (N=70) levels of self-efficacy and knowledge of trauma-informed care at both pre- and post-training. Analysis of variance results indicated a statistically significant improvement in students’ levels of general self-efficacy and knowledge from pre- to post-assessment (p \u3c .01). These results are suggestive of the usefulness of brief didactics combined with simulation to educate occupational therapy students on adverse childhood experiences and trauma-informed care

A Simulation Training to Prepare Camp Counselors for Working With Children at Camp HOPE America

Camp has proven to be an effective positive youth development strategy for children and youth who experience trauma and adversity. However, training camp counselors who are prepared to meet the needs of trauma-exposed youth in these settings are less understood. This pilot evaluation study provides the results of a social simulation-based training for counselors who will work with children who have witnessed family violence through Camp HOPE America. Survey data (N = 76) and content analysis from video recorded training sessions in simulation that used standardized actors and scenarios from the 1st year (n = 37) were conducted. Repeated measures ANOVA results indicated statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-instruction simulation in counselors’ hope scores (p < .001); their knowledge and confidence in recognizing and reporting physical/sexual abuse, and self-harming behaviors (p < .001); as well as significant increases in their knowledge and confidence in de-escalation, preventing difficult situations, and building campers’ hope (pl < .001). Further, analysis of simulation videos suggests that camp counselors used new skils from the training during the simulation experience. Participants showed gains in knowledge, confidence, use of skills, and an overall increase in hope after completing the simulation training

The Role of Positive Social Institutions in Promoting Hope and Flourishing among Sexual and Gender Minorities: A Multi-Group Analysis

Social work practice is grounded in the symbiotic relationship between macrosystemic community work and direct practice with individuals; however, following a resurgence in emphasis on evidence-based clinical social work in higher education, research on community-building efforts within social work has waned. Among sexual and gender minority populations (SGM), research has indicated a vast array of negative outcomes associated with added stressors, such as stigma, discrimination, and marginalization impacting the population. As such, this study attempts to re-focus the attention of social work practice on the importance of building community, especially for SGM populations. Via a multi-group analysis, the relationship between community (positive social institutions), hope, and flourishing was explored in both the cisgender-heterosexual population and that of the sexual and gender minority population (n = 586) within the United States. Results indicate that there are differences with positive social institutions directly impacting flourishing and indirectly through hope, whereas among the cisgender-heterosexual population, positive social institutions impact flourishing indirectly through hope, and not directly. As such, it is imperative that social workers focus on building strong supportive communities for SGM populations in order to directly and indirectly impact their overall flourishing and wellbeing