Secondary Traumatic Stress in CACs: Why It Matters and What You Can Do
Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) professionals are routinely exposed to the traumatic experiences of the children and families they serve. This work can put professionals at risk for secondary traumatic stress (STS)—the emotional distress that can result from hearing about or being repeatedly exposed to another person’s trauma. When left unaddressed, STS can affect individual well-being, workplace morale, staff retention, decision-making, and service delivery.
This one-page resource explains why investing in STS prevention and response is essential to protecting your workforce, improving outcomes for children and families, and strengthening the long-term sustainability of your CAC. It also connects CAC professionals and organizational leaders with trusted resources to:
- Build foundational knowledge about STS
- Evaluate how STS-informed their organization is
- Incorporate STS education into onboarding
- Monitor STS levels confidentially and without stigma
- Strengthen peer support
- Implement supportive workplace wellness policies
This resource provides CAC professionals and leaders with practical first steps and trusted tools to better understand, prevent, and respond to secondary traumatic stress.
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