Training Protocol Efficacy on Empowerment and Sustainability in Staff Serving Marginalized Youth in Peru

Authors

• Hannah Park, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Abigail Sugarman, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow
• Stephen DiDonato, PhD, LPC, NCC, Thomas Jefferson UniversityFollow

Document Type

Abstract

Publication Date

2-11-2026

Academic Year

2025-2026

Comments

Presented at the 2026 Scholarly Inquiry (SI) Research Project Symposium.

Abstract

Introduction: In Peru, there is limited longitudinal research evaluating trauma-informed care (TIC) training for residential child-care staff, despite evidence that it reduces distress, improves confidence and expertise. This project addresses this gap, studying the impact of a trauma-informed training protocol on staff perceptions of the residential care environment and on staff self-awareness. We hypothesize that an effective protocol would yield improvements in both domains.

Methods: As Phase 3 of a study under Dr. Stephen DiDonato (Jefferson College of Nursing) and Dr. Wayne Centrone (Health Bridges International, HBI), this phase evaluates supplemental training under an established protocol while introducing a self-sustainability model, designating an “ambassador” to continue trainings post-HBI staff departure. 23 staff members from three residential homes in Cusco/Sacred Valley completed three surveys: Community-Oriented Programs Environment Scale (CPES) assessing perceptions of the residential care environment, Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Version 2 (MAIA-2) assessing self-awareness, and Group Environment Scale (GES) measuring the team’s social climate. Surveys were administered three times by on-site HBI staff: pre-training, immediately post-training in April 2025, and eight months post-training in December 2025.

Results: Statistical analysis is ongoing with completion expected by time of presentation in January 2026. Blinded and coded data via standardized legend is analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program.

Conclusions: Study limitations include delayed result delivery overseas, therefore lacking preliminary results for discussion. Demonstrated improvements in CPES, MAIA‑2, and GES scores would support TIC protocol efficacy in residential childcare, indicating future research adapting TIC for policy transition toward deinstitutionalization and foster‑care systems.

Recommended Citation

Park, Hannah; Sugarman, Abigail; and DiDonato, PhD, LPC, NCC, Stephen, "Training Protocol Efficacy on Empowerment and Sustainability in Staff Serving Marginalized Youth in Peru" (2026). Phase 1. Paper 4.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/si_phr_2028_phase1/4

Language

English