Abstract
Objectives: This article presents the theoretical basis, initial deployment strategies, and resulting preliminary findings of a program implemented in residential treatment centres (RCs) in child welfare. “Program Penguin” aimed to help workers develop trauma-informed attitudes and implement trauma-informed practices, make the workplace more responsive to the well-being of RC workers, and reduce the use of restraints and seclusion among school-aged children in RCs. Methods: Informed by the theories of complex trauma (National Child Traumatic Stress Network Complex Trauma Task Force, 2003), polyvicitimization (Finkelhor et al., 2007), Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC; Blaustein & Kinniburgh, 2018) and Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (PBIS; Sugai & Horner, 2002), Program Penguin was developed and deployed using the social innovation approach (Fixsen et al. 2005). The key stages of social innovation will here be used to describe the implementation process. Results: Changes in practices were observed, RC worker attitudes towards trauma-informed care were assessed and showed strong effects between multiple covariables. RC worker support needs were identified, and a reduction in the use of restraints and seclusions was shown. Key strategies towards the development and maintenance of buy-in and meaningful change in practices are also described. Implications: Changes observed at all levels of this implementation suggest Programme Penguin is a promising approach, despite local issues that arose and the challenges inherent to program deployment within child protection settings. It appears a trauma-informed program using positive behavioural approaches and leveraging existing organizational strengths may impact intervention strategies, worker attitudes, and the use of restraints and seclusions against children in RCs.
Highlights
The majority of children living in residential treatment centres under child protective or youth offender mandates have faced multiple forms of hardship, including abuse, separations from significant and caregiving relationships, abandonment or repeated displacements (Collin-Vézina et al, 2011; Hodgdon et al, 2013; Hummer et al, 2010)
The implementation of a Trauma-informed care (TIC) program into residential treatment centres requires a reappraisal of every aspect of practice, from the philosophies that ground attitudes towards children and youth in placement to the behavioural expectations related to each moment in their routine
Our implementation strategy delivering trauma-informed care through social innovation has succeeded in motivating residential treatment centre professionals to change their practices and suggest that delivering a TIC program through social innovation is a promising approach
Summary
The majority of children living in residential treatment centres under child protective or youth offender mandates have faced multiple forms of hardship, including abuse, separations from significant and caregiving relationships, abandonment or repeated displacements (Collin-Vézina et al, 2011; Hodgdon et al, 2013; Hummer et al, 2010). Implementing trauma-informed care through social innovation in child welfare residential treatment centres serving elementary school children encountered throughout the province In this way, different regions were able to coordinate with each other to further promote the co-development of their programs. Team member attitudes were impacted by: (a) the ages of the clients they served (children or youth), (b) the legal mandate under which their clients were placed (child protection or young offenders), (c) the professional role they occupied (residential childcare worker or management) and their level of education These effects suggested that TIC implementation must be tailored to account for differences in TIC attitudes pre-training, including the clientele served, the mandate under which they are receiving child welfare services, the educational background of the workers, and the workers’ current positions in the child welfare system (Collin-Vézina et al, 2020). Program Penguin and Program Polaris have shown evidence that changes have resulted in residential treatment centre team attitudes, practices and outcomes for children and youth
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