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Birds of a Feather
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Birds of a Feather

Behavioral Health

Session: Birds of a Feather

3 - Considering a Trauma-informed Approach to Evaluation: The Significance of Collaboration and Safety in Evaluation Design to Elevate Community Voice

Stream: Health and Wellness

Friday, October 25, 2024
12:45 PM - 1:15 PM PST
Location: Exhibit Hall A
Birds of a Feather
Abstract Information: For evaluators partnering with behavioral health programs to support evaluation design and implementation, it is important to integrate trauma-informed principles into co-designed project planning and evaluation to amplify the voices of organization staff and clients. The evaluation of any historically underserved population must elevate the voices of those directly within the community. A trauma-informed approach offers sensitivity and awareness of the presence of trauma in many individuals’ lives and the role trauma may play in how they encounter the world. In this session, presenters will discuss key learnings from a collaborative project of Cardea, Aurrera Health Group, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) in which the presenters conducted an environmental scan and gap analysis. Lessons learned emphasize grounding evaluation design in trauma-informed principles, including those of trustworthiness and transparency, intentional collaboration with people with lived experience/peer support, consideration of cultural and historical issues, and safety.