Well-Being Support for Professionals Working with Families of Young Children with Special Needs
Providing critical support to families of young children with special needs, Developmental Therapists and Service Coordinators have prolonged exposure to other people’s trauma, which can make them vulnerable to compassion fatigue, also known as secondary or vicarious trauma; they can experience acute symptoms that put their physical and mental health at risk, making them wary of giving and caring. As a result, the critical support needed by thousands of vulnerable families in our community can be diminished due to the lack of the well-being of their helpers. Implementing a training program to address the well-being of service providers and families of young children with special needs in our community would result in higher energy and engagement, less stress, better communication, lower health risks, improved mental health, an enjoyable work environment, and improved services.
This project could positively impact 100 service providers in our community. With their new knowledge of strategies to achieve well-being, service providers could also affect the well-being of thousands of the families of young children with special needs that they serve in the fifteen counties surrounding Knox County.