Because exposure to trauma is pervasive and is associated with substantial costs to the individual and society, it is also a significant public health concern. Public health workers can play a critical part in understanding risk and protective factors for trauma and its aftermath, at multiple levels of influence.

Among the approaches for public health personnel are interventions at the systemic, community, and individual levels, knowledge and use of screening tools, and referrals for children and families to take a multi-generational approach to the prevention of trauma and its sequelae across generations. This module will review these levels of influence along with other pertinent information for the field of public health.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this module, participants will be able to:

• Summarize foundational concepts for a public health approach to trauma
• Apply SAMHSA’s principles of trauma-informed care to their own agencies and practices
• Name at least two screening tools to identify trauma in children and families
• Identify compassion fatigue and vicarious traumatization and strategies to build their own capacity to serve victims

Presenters

• Claudia Pineda Benton is manager for Maternal Child Adolescent Health programs and Community Health Field Nursing in Ventura County, where she has worked for 24 years. She currently manages home visitation programs with emphasis in child abuse prevention, substance use, and commercially sexually exploited adolescents, among others.

• Angela Fulmer is a public health nurse and serves as clinical supervisor for Ventura County Public Health's Nurse-Family Partnership. She is a founder of the Public Health Nurse Alliance and recently earned Perinatal Mental Health certification from Postpartum Support International.

Continuing Education Units

This course meets qualifications for 1 hour of continuing education credit for LMFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (provider #128510). The cost is $20. Please complete the module for information on how to apply.