For DSS staff, service providers and state and community partners
Trauma-informed and resilience-focused policies understand how trauma affects people and works to create safe, supportive systems that help prevent further harm and support healing. They also help individuals, communities and organizations build resilience, adapt and thrive.
The Office of Trauma and Resilience Policy (OTRP) provides leadership within the Virginia Department of Social Services to put these practices into action across the agency and its partners. By coordinating policy, training and collaboration across divisions, the OTRP helps build a culture that strengthens resilience, supports well-being and improves outcomes for the communities DSS serves.
Visit Virginia HEALS for trauma-informed tools, training and resources.
Building a Trauma-Informed Agency
We bring trauma-informed practices into DSS programs, policies and everyday work.
Working Together Across Virginia
We coordinate with state and community partners to align trauma and resilience efforts.
Strengthening Communities
We work with local partners to support healing and resilience for children, families and individuals.
Here are tools and resources that strengthen worker well-being, promote trauma-informed practices and build workplaces that support safety, trust and healing.
Supporting Workforce Well-Being
Taking care of staff well-being helps them stay healthy and do their jobs better. Here are some resources to better understand vicarious trauma and support workers.
A report on the high costs of child welfare worker turnover in Virginia and the potential of workforce support program to reduce them.
A short overview of the Cost of Child Welfare Turnover Report.
A report on how vicarious trauma affects local DSS workers and ways to help them feel more supported on the job.
A report sharing the voices of local DSS staff from 20 focus groups on vicarious trauma, coping and support at work.
A report sharing survey results from almost 1,000 local DSS workers about vicarious trauma, coping and support at work.
A shared understanding of trauma and resilience supports the development of safe, effective, and responsive systems across the Commonwealth.
Trauma happens when a person experiences an event or situation as something scary, dangerous or upsetting. It may be a single event or something that happens over time. These experiences can cause lasting effects on a person's feelings, thoughts, relationships and overall well-being.
Vicarious Trauma is the stress or emotional impact a person can feel from hearing about or supporting others through painful or difficult experiences. Over time, it can start to affect how a person feels, thinks or sees the world even though they were not directly involved in the experience.
Resilience is the ability of people and families to get through hard times, adapt, heal and grow stronger. Safe, stable and caring relationships help build this strength.
Community Resilience is the ability of a group or network of people to create and maintain safe, stable, and nurturing environments and systems. These supportive environments and systems help individuals and families handle challenges, adapt, heal and grow stronger together.
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