Research
Our work is evidenced based and we have a research strategy and aim to add to the international evidence base for Trauma Informed Practice.
Our work is evidenced based and we have a research strategy and aim to add to the international evidence base for Trauma Informed Practice.
This report on the needs of women in Limerick accessing probation, homeless and substance use services documented a disproportionately high level of childhood adversity (96% of women had at least one adverse childhood experience) and adulthood trauma (91% had experienced intimate partner violence in adulthood). When service providers scores and service users scores on adherence to trauma-informed values were compared, the research showed that services over-estimated their adherence to trauma informed values.
This research explores the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a cohort of young people engaged in Garda Youth Diversion Programmes (GYDP), and the implications for Garda Youth Diversion Projects. The research revealed disproportionate rates of trauma among young people engaged with youth policing services, and unanimous support from youth justice police officers for trauma-training for the police.
This dissertation undertaken for psychology masters in Queens University Belfast revealed statistically significant reduction in incident severity in a homeless service after undertaking trauma-informed practice training. This included the need for emergency medical services to be called in incidents falling from 66.3% (pre-training) to 33.3% (post-training) and the need for the administration of first aid to fall from 25% to 9%. The research was undertaken by Deirdre Kirwan of Queens University Belfast.
This dissertation undertaken for a psychology masters in the University of Limerick revealed a large reduction in the frequency of a variety of incident types pre and post training, including an overall reduction in incidents of over 65%. The research was undertaken by Talha Al Ali and Dr Ronnie Greenwood of University of Limerick.
A number of studies have been undertaken with participants at approximately three months post-training to identify whether they had observed any changes in their perceptions of themselves, their work with service users or their teams. The results below are from one service, and have been mirrored in two other large organisations: