Trauma Treatment in Norwegian Child Advocacy Centers

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD, Child advocacy center, Childhood trauma

Norwegian child and advocacy centers´ core activities include both forensic services (e.g., forensic interviews) and follow-up services (e.g., treatment), aiming to coordinate the different services involved in each case to prevent additional burdens for youth in already vulnerable situations. However, a recent study indicates that very few receive follow-up after the forensic interview and that the follow-up in most cases includes one-time or occasional support and only in rare cases treatment. In the same study, youth receiving follow-up in the CAC in Oslo revealed significantly higher levels of common mental health problems than a comparable community sample, yet lower than clinical samples, indicating that many youths in CACs may be falling between different services within the health care system, not necessarily receiving the help they need elsewhere. The current project will investigate four issues related to these knowledge needs; 1. How do children and parents experience receiving trauma treatment at child advocacy centers? 2. What predicts treatment effects? 3. What is the prevalence of symptoms of burnout and secondary traumatic stress among employees working in child advocacy centers, and can training in evidence-based treatment prevent burnout and secondary traumatic stress?

Employees in the child advocacy centers (CAC) received training in trauma screening and a sub-sample received training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). To address the knowledge gaps, this project will answer the following research questions, corresponding to four Work Packages (WP): 1. Youth's and caregiver´s experiences with trauma treatment in CACs: How do youth and caregivers experience receiving trauma treatment in Norwegian CACs, and how are their experiences affected by CACs dual role as both a forensic institution and a treatment institution? 2. Response, non-response and dropout in trauma treatment in CACs: What predicts treatment outcomes for youth receiving TF-CBT in Norwegian CACs? 3. Therapists' experiences with trauma treatment in CACs: How do therapists in Norwegian CACs experience job demands and job resources, including burnout and secondary traumatic stress, and how can working with TF-CBT influence this? 4. Descriptive study of leadership, turnover, and secondary traumatic stress among staff in Norwegian Child Advocacy Centers. To answer research question 1, qualitative interviews with children and caregivers will be conducted following their participation in TF-CBT. For research question 2, quantitative data will be collected during the TF-CBT sessions. The child advocacy centers identify eligible TF-CBT clients through systematic trauma screening and establish routines for how TF-CBT is offered and delivered. Research question 3 is qualitative, with semi-structured interviews with therapists. Lastly, both questionnaire data and interviews will be used to answer research question 4.

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Norway