Meeting an important need, this is the first book to present a comprehensive framework for integrating trauma-informed principles into evaluation practice. It provides concepts and strategies applicable to any evaluation approach, from the initial project framing to surveys, interviews, analysis, and final reporting. The authors explain the neuroscience of trauma and show how using Trauma-Informed Evaluation and Research (TIER) practices can improve the quality of research while supporting healing, resilience, and posttraumatic growth in both participants and researchers. Grounded in SAMHSA’s Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care, the book features compelling case studies from diverse practitioners; reflection questions; and practical tools, checklists, and templates for immediate implementation. Cultural responsiveness, equity, and restorative justice principles are woven throughout.
Table of Contents:
I. Understanding Individual and Collective Traumas--Including Our Own
1. What Is Trauma?
2. How Our Own Traumas Influence Our Work
3. Foundational Principles of TIER
II. The Evaluation Landscape
4. Representation of Trauma in the Evaluation and Research Literature
5. TIER’s Congruence with Evaluation Approaches
6. Equity-Focused and Trauma-Informed Evaluation and Research
III. Doing TIER
7. Being a TI Researcher and Evaluator
8. Designing and Framing TIER
9. Making Surveys Trauma Informed
10. TI Interviews and Focus Groups
11. TI Analysis and Reporting
IV. Growing TIER
12. TI Programs, Organizations, and Systems
Appendix A. Recommended Literature Referencing the Six Principles
Appendix B. Trauma-Informed Coalitions and Organizations
Appendix C. Resources for Deeper Learning.
Appendix D. What about Fawning?
TIER Glossary
References
Index
About the Author :
Martha A. Brown, PhD, is an independent evaluation consultant in Minnesota. Her interests and expertise include trauma-informed practices, restorative justice, and culturally responsive evaluation approaches. She has applied these various methods and philosophies to her work as well as to her own healing from adverse childhood experiences and other traumas. As president and founder of RJAE Consulting, Dr. Brown helps individuals and organizations become restorative and trauma-informed through online courses, workshops, and coaching sessions.
Aaron W. Kates, PhD, LCSW, is an Indiana-based evaluation consultant with Effect X, where he works with a range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations designing and implementing program evaluations. As a social worker, mental health counselor, evaluation scholar and practitioner, and survivor of childhood trauma, Dr. Kates brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to trauma-informed evaluation and research. He worked as a trauma therapist with unaccompanied minors before pursuing his doctoral education.
Review :
“Trauma-informed care has led to innovations in programs and practices, but guidance for conducting TIER has largely been lacking. This book fills a gap by offering clear, actionable instruction on applying TIER across settings where trauma-informed approaches are needed. The authors adopt a strengths-based perspective and address challenging issues with clarity and rigor. Case studies and reflection prompts make the content directly useful to practitioners, evaluators, and researchers.â€--Emily Adlin Bosk, LMSW, PhD, School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; originator of the TIER framework
“A comprehensive conceptual and methodological resource for evaluators and practitioners who work with populations that have experienced significant trauma. This book explains trauma-informed principles and applies them to evaluation scholarship and practice in a thoughtful, sensible way. It is written in a clear and engaging style. The illustrative examples span multiple types and contexts of trauma, which is a key strength of the book.â€--Rebecca Campbell, PhD, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University
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