The Attitudes and Knowledge of Residential Treatment Center Staff Members Working with Adolescents Who Have Experienced Trauma

Although many programs are working to reduce and eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion practices, these practices continue to be highly prevalent. A one-hour in-service training on Trauma-Informed Care and Sensory Integration principles and strategies for de-escalating behavior was presented to staff members working directly with adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral problems living in a Residential Treatment Center. Staff member attitudes regarding Trauma-Informed Care, the use of restraints, and sensory-based alternatives were measured before and after the in-service training to determine pre-existing staff attitudes and the potential influence of such a training on staff attitudes.