Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) Resources

Reflect. Refuel. Reset. is a hub for resources and tools designed to help prevent and alleviate the impacts of secondary traumatic stress (STS) often affecting CAC and MDT professionals who serve victims of child abuse and their families.

Access the Reflect. Refuel. Reset. hub.

CAC professionals are regularly exposed to child trauma as part of their work, and this exposure can lead to Secondary Traumatic Stress, which can have negative impacts on CAC professionals and organizations if left unaddressed. The STS Blueprint: A Guide to Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress in Children’s Advocacy Centers was designed to help CACs develop an organizational plan to address secondary traumatic stress (STS) among CAC staff.  

The STS Blueprint outlines the need for a tool like this and describes the importance of an organizational health approach. It covers six domains, including:  

• Domain 1: Resilience-Building Staff, Health, and Wellness 
• Domain 2: Creating and Sustaining a Safe and Supportive Culture 
• Domain 3: STS-Informed Policies and Procedures 
• Domain 4: STS-Informed Leadership and Supervision 
• Domain 5: STS-Informed Training 
• Domain 6: Organizational Evaluation and Monitoring 

For each domain you can explore an overview, rating tool, strategies, action plan, considerations for MDTs, resources, and references. See the quick start guide for how to get started. 

Visit the STS Blueprint: A Guide to Addressing Secondary Traumatic Stress in Children’s Advocacy Centers.