Evaluating Trauma-Informed School Social Work

Abstract

Most school administrators and teachers agree that they want to create learning environments that are safe for all children. However, recognizing that some dynamics within the school environment can feel unsafe to children who have experienced trauma, and changing them, is another matter. Uniform standards for creating trauma-informed environments and metrics for evaluating their success are currently lacking in the fields of education and social work. Chapter 8 provides a program evaluation strategy for trauma-informed school social workers to utilize in determining the success of their programs and to adapt programs as needed based on outcomes. The aim is to build and expand the literature on empirically supported and evidence-based practices in school settings. Logic models are presented, and resources for evaluating trauma-informed schools are provided.