Traumatic Stress Institute Blog

Utilizing Program Evaluation to Transition Trauma-Informed Care from Concept to Practice

Written by Tasha Reece, M.S. | July 10, 2023

Program evaluation using an empirically-validated instrument like the Traumatic Stress Institute’s Online ARTIC Scale (ARTIC stands for Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care) gives you insight into whether the training modality you choose is effective for your staff/agency.  “Trauma-informed care” has become a commonly-used term in healthcare settings as research further supports the impact that past trauma has on an individual’s ability to cope with stress (Gokhale et al., 2020). 

While acknowledging the impact of trauma is a step in the right direction, it is imperative that the trauma-informed framework is implemented into practice. This is exceedingly important in behavioral health and education settings where client-facing interactions impact long-term health outcomes. 

One of the best evidence-based methods of supporting your agency in its trauma-informed work is to invest in interventions that will establish both a common language and an agency-wide culture shift. It is important to remember, however, that not every intervention will have the same impact on differing organizations. Using the ARTIC scale allows you to assess how well your chosen interventions support your staff – and change course if needed. Other benefits of program evaluation include: 

  • The ability to make data-driven decisions within your agency
  • Fostering opportunities for transparent communication with your organization
  • Supporting grant and funding requests

Along with the aforementioned benefits, the Online ARTIC also comes with a dedicated team of professionals that will support your program evaluation as you make trauma-informed decisions for your organization.

Want to learn more about supporting your organization in planning and implementing effective program evaluation for trauma-informed care (TIC) interventions?

Ready to talk with us about planning your Online ARTIC implementation?

References

Gokhale, P., Young, M. R., Williams, M. N., Reid, S. N., Tom, L. S., O'Brian, C. A., & Simon, M. A. (2020). Refining trauma‐informed perinatal care for urban prenatal care patients with multiple lifetime traumatic exposures: A qualitative study. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 65(2), 224-230.