Hidden Costs of Security
Project Summary: Vicarious Trauma in Counterterrorism Practitioners
How are counterterrorism practitioners affected by exposure to violent material? As scholars or managers in the field, we simply do not know the answer. The expertise that the counterterrorism workforce possess have protected and strengthened our country from evolving foreign and domestic threats. However, insights from multiple disciplines, notably counseling, indicate it is possible that practitioners experience vicarious trauma through repeated exposure to violent materials. The purpose of this project is to develop a baseline understanding of how practitioners are affected by exposure to violence and the implications this may have on the resilience of and future development of the homeland security workforce. Considering exposure levels, a key outcome of the project is the development of survey instruments to establish whether vicarious trauma is affecting the counterterrorism workforce. A second key outcome is developing tools to mitigate these potential harmful impacts on the counterterrorism workforce to increase US homeland security.
Funder(s)
Award(s)
$300,000 (NCITE)
Principal Investigator(s)
Joseph Young, University of Kentucky
Daisy Muibu, Africa Center for Strategic Studies (Co-PI)
Partner(s)
Team Members
Lindsay Kurlak Barclay, American University
Michael Becker, American University
Ethan Ferguson, The University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa)
Daniel Gutierrez, Virginia Commonwealth University
Willow Kreutzer, American University
Sarah Lynch, American University
Project Status
Active
Project Summary: Systematic Review of Peer Support Training Programs to Reduce the Effects of Secondary Exposure to Violence
This project will evaluate the existing evidence on peer support programs and identify best practices, then apply those to assess a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) use case. The existing literature has identified various organizational support tools, including peer support, as potential tools intended to moderate the impact exposure to violent and traumatic materials has on the wellbeing and work experiences of professionals. However, the extent to which peer support programs have proven to be effective for law enforcement and the counterterror workforce professions remains unclear. Recognizing this gap in knowledge, our study intends to undertake a systematic review of the literature on peer support programs that exist for law enforcement and the counterterrorism workforce specifically so as to understand their utility and effectiveness for this population of professionals. We will then use the results of our review and analysis of DHS / U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) materials to provide an evaluability assessment for a more full-scale evaluation of this and related programs.
Funder(s)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T)
National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education Center (NCITE)
Award(s)
$350,000 (DHS S&T)
Principal Investigator(s)
Joseph Young, University of Kentucky
Susanna Campbell, American University (Co-PI)
Daisy Muibu, National Defense University (Co-PI)
Team Members
Lindsay Kurlak Barclay, American University
Michael H. Becker, American University
Sarah M. Lynch, American University
Project Status
Active