Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Chicago Violence Interventionists

• In Event: The Violence Intervention Workers Study: An In-Depth View of Street Outreach Professionals in Chicago and Beyond

Abstract

Although much attention has been given to the efficacy of violence intervention practices, little research has focused on the impact of this work on workers themselves. The degree to which outreach workers are exposed to clients with trauma, witness gun violence, experience traumatic loss, and are otherwise exposed to traumatic incidents while on the job raises concerns about the mental health costs associated with working in the field. To better understand the mental health consequences of violence intervention, we draw from a near census of Chicago-based violence interventionists: The Violence Intervention Worker Study (VIeWS). This survey offers a comprehensive look at the trauma and mental health risks of violence intervention work. We utilize the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS) to analyze the extent to which this population reports experiencing symptoms of secondary trauma resulting from their work with traumatized clients and populations. Our findings indicate that violence interventionists appear to experience secondary traumatic stress differently than human service professionals in other fields. We leverage these findings for discuss implications for training, prevention, and future research.

Authors

• David M. Hureau, University at Albany, SUNY

• Theodore Wilson, University at Albany, SUNY

• Wayne Rivera, Northwestern University

• Andrew Papachristos, Northwestern University