Assessing Alignment Between Intellectual and Developmental Disability Service Providers and Trauma-Informed Care: An Exploratory Study

Trauma-informed climate scale-10 and attitudes related to trauma-informed care-10: An examination of scale psychometrics using data from disability service providers

BACKGROUND

Assessment is fundamental to the implementation of trauma-informed care. As trauma-informed care advances among organizations supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), it is critical that they have access to validated assessment tools.

OBJECTIVE

This is the first study to examine the psychometric properties of two brief measures associated with trauma-informed care, Trauma-Informed Climate Scale (TICS-10) and Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC-10), using data from the IDD service industry.

METHODS

We employed structural equation modeling to examine the factor structure, reliability of TICS-10 and ARTIC-10, and construct validity with the ProQOL using secondary data from 374 service providers.

RESULTS

We confirmed the factorial validity of TICS-10 and ARTIC-10 with single factor solutions; however, modifications were necessary to achieve adequate model fit.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study provides initial evidence of the validity and reliability of TICS-10 and ARTIC-10 when used within organizations supporting people with IDD. Recommendations for subsequent improvements and future research of the scales are provided.

Advancing trauma-informed care in intellectual and developmental disability services: A pilot study of a digital training with direct service providers

BACKGROUND

As trauma-informed care advances in the service delivery system for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, additional resources are needed to foster staff development. This article describes the development and pilot evaluation of a digital training on trauma-informed care among direct service providers (DSPs) in the disability service industry.

METHOD

Following an AB design, a mixed methods approach was used to analyse the responses of 24 DSPs to an online survey at baseline and at follow-up.

RESULTS

The training was associated with increased staff knowledge in some domains and greater alignment with trauma-informed care. Staff expressed a strong likelihood of using trauma-informed care in practice and identified organisational assets and barriers to implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

Digital trainings can facilitate staff development and the advancement of trauma-informed care. Although additional efforts are warranted, this study fills a gap in the literature regarding staff training and trauma-informed care.