Lessons Learned From Developing a Trauma Consultation Protocol for Juvenile and Family Courts

• NCJ Number: 251185
• Journal: Juvenile and Family Court Journal Volume: 67 Issue: 3 Dated: September 2016 Pages: 5-22
• Author(s): Shawn C. Marsh; Alicia Summers; Alicia DeVault; J. Guillermo Villalobos
• Date Published: September 2016
• Length: 17 pages
• Grant Number(s): 2012-MU-MU-K001
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Corporate Author: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
• Sale Source: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Program/Project Description; Legislation/Policy Description; Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This article reviews the background for, the development of, and the major features of a protocol called trauma consultation or trauma audit, which specifies the key features of a trauma-informed juvenile and family court and how to assist courts in becoming more trauma-responsive for both clients and staff.

Abstract

The protocol was developed with the assistance of courts in 11 pilot sites across the nation, which provided opportunities to test and improve on principles for the consultation protocol. The work done in developing the consultation protocol focused on the need to address the following realities: 1) the prevalence and impact of secondary traumatic stress in court staff, 2) the potential for environment to contribute to traumatic stress reactions, and 3) the importance of consistent trauma screening and subsequent use of findings. Practical suggestions for juvenile and family courts to become more trauma-informed are provided.