Boost well-being and retention for child welfare workers through trauma-informed care and psychological safety.

In this episode of the Academy i3 podcast, the discussion centers around the critical issues of workforce recruitment and retention in the field of child welfare. Guest Lisa Maaca Bartlett, an experienced social work professional and academic, shares her insights on creating supportive work environments, the impacts of trauma-informed care, and the significance of psychological safety within organizations. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique challenges faced by child welfare workers, including secondary traumatic stress, and offers practical strategies to improve retention and well-being among staff. This episode is a valuable resource for leaders and practitioners looking to enhance their organizational culture and support their teams effectively.

Episode Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

07:00 – Research on Workforce Retention

11:47 – Themes for High Turnover Rates

16:38 – Impact of Stress and Burnout

24:22 – Trauma-Informed Care in Practice

35:29 – Supporting Current Workers: Psychological Safety

36:20 – Understanding Psychological Safety

37:30 – Four Stages of Psychological Safety

48:42 – Trauma-Informed Care and Workforce Retention Strategies

Check out the resources we mentioned:

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) – Trauma-Informed Care Curriculum: https://www.nctsn.org/

• Harvard Business Review Article: "The Hazards of a ‘Nice’ Company Culture" by Timothy R. Clark (2021): https://hbr.org/2021/06/the-hazards-of-a-nice-company-culture

  
  

Learn about our guest: 

Lisa Maaca Bartlette, MSSA, is a social service entrepreneur and founder of Lisa Maaca, Inc., specializing in Trauma-Informed Care. Drawing from her own healing journey and extensive social work experience in Ohio and California, Lisa delivers transformative, evidence-based programs and keynotes across the US. She consults and trains California’s Child Welfare and Juvenile Probation workforce, helping reshape how trauma is understood and addressed. With a background in Business Management, a Master of Science in Social Administration, and ongoing doctoral studies focused on Trauma-Informed Care and Neurobiology of Trauma, Lisa combines research and real-world practice to inspire positive organizational change.

Contact Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-maaca-bartlette-47225525/ 

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