Using Occupational Therapy Practitioners' Trauma-Informed Experiences to Improve School-Based Practice

This dissertation explores Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) from the perspective of school-based occupational therapists (SB-OTs) to support students who may be negatively affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). TIC focuses on creating an interpersonal culture of safety and respect and is becoming more well known in healthcare and education. Using the Nominal Group Technique (NGT), experienced SB-OTs from across the US participated in focus groups to identify priorities for delivery of TIC in school-based practice. Additionally, the 5 NGT focus groups (n=24) identified facilitators and barriers to effective TIC in schools. Drawing from these findings, the Pediatric Remediation Outcomes: Trauma-Informed Principles (PRO-TIP) program is proposed. PRO-TIP centers on refining fine motor skills through school-based occupations, guided by occupational therapy (OT) theory, and caters to educators and SB-OTs. The program is designed to support students, educators, SB-OTs, and improve the wider workplace culture. By offering fundamental priorities on TIC aspects, this dissertation serves as a valuable resource for entry-level occupational therapists (OTs), researchers, school staff, and administrators seeking to embrace a trauma-informed approach. The framework for the PRO-TIP program emerges as a practical, evidence-based tool designed to be further developed and piloted in elementary-school settings. With original research and a novel program design, this dissertation began with the end in mind: to help young, misunderstood learners with trauma related behaviors change their life trajectory for the better.

Grantor dc:publisher

Temple University. Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Blaise, Sarah

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Lynch, Amy

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Pachik, Kimberly

• Trauma-informed care
• School-based
• Occupational therapists

Statement dc:rights

• IN COPYRIGHT- This Rights Statement can be used for an Item that is in copyright. Using this statement implies that the organization making this Item available has determined that the Item is in copyright and either is the rights-holder, has obtained permission from the rights-holder(s) to make their Work(s) available, or makes the Item available under an exception or limitation to copyright (including Fair Use) that entitles it to make the Item available.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12613/8867

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarshare.temple.edu:20.500.12613/8867