@article{ascienzo_sprang_royse_2024, title={Are Differences Evident in the Ways Boys and Girls Appraise and Interpret Their Traumatic Experiences? A Qualitative Analysis of Youth Trauma Narratives}, volume={39}, ISSN={["1945-7073"]}, DOI={10.1891/VV-2024-0003}, number={2}, journal={VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS}, author={Ascienzo, Sarah and Sprang, Ginny and Royse, David}, year={2024}, pages={143–167} } @article{sprang_ascienzo_atwater_cole_2023, title={The utility of trauma evaluations in judicial decision-making in child sex trafficking cases: A qualitative analysis}, ISSN={["1744-1617"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12742}, DOI={10.1111/fcre.12742}, abstractNote={AbstractYouth coerced into trafficking experience multiple forms of abuse, and are deprived of basic human rights associated with liberty and self‐determination, all of which can adversely affect mental and psychological well‐being (Ottisova et al., Behavioral Medicine, 44(3), 234‐241.). This study uses a qualitative approach to exploring how judges use trauma‐related information to make decisions about how to adjudicate cases involving minors who have been sexually trafficked. Additionally, the study identifies barriers to receiving data, the court resources needed to effectively respond, and potential remedies to address gaps in effective case management. The study uses data from 82 juvenile and family court judges from around the USA 27‐item structured interview was used to determine the availability and utility of trauma services, needed resources, and solutions to overcome gaps in effective case adjudication. Themes emerged related to lack of access to and timing issues that limited the utility of reports, lack of congruency between recommendations and available resources and child and family resistance to disclosures. Solutions to overcome barriers are related to increased cross‐disciplinary collaboration, awareness and responsiveness. Legal remedies such as Safe Harbor laws can only be realized if the systemic context is aligned and appropriately resourced toward responsiveness.}, journal={Family Court Review}, author={Sprang, G. and Ascienzo, S. and Atwater, C. and Cole, J.}, year={2023} } @article{ascienzo_sprang_royse_2022, title={Gender differences in the PTSD symptoms of polytraumatized youth during isolated phases of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy.}, volume={14}, ISSN={1942-969X 1942-9681}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/tra0001028}, DOI={10.1037/tra0001028}, abstractNote={OBJECTIVE Gender differences in the development and severity of PTSD have long been observed, but much less is known about gender differences within the context of trauma-focused treatment. This study investigated gender differences in the PTSD symptoms of polytraumatized youth during Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). METHOD The sample included child welfare-involved youth ages 7-18 (N = 138) who experienced a mean of 4.78 types of trauma and received TF-CBT at a trauma treatment clinic. Mixed ANOVA analyses assessed gender differences in PTSD symptoms from baseline to termination of treatment. PTSD symptoms were then mapped according to the phase of treatment, and factorial ANOVAs examined gender differences during isolated phases of TF-CBT. Potential interactions with sexual violence history were considered. RESULTS Significant reductions in overall PTSD, intrusive, avoidance and arousal symptoms were found from baseline to termination of TF-CBT for the entire sample, although females reported higher symptom levels across all PTSD symptom domains. Significant gender differences were also revealed during some, but not all, phases of treatment, with variations among PTSD symptom domains noted. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest TF-CBT is effective in reducing PTSD in youth with poly-trauma exposure, irrespective of gender. Gender differences in symptom severity were revealed, however, and indicate the need to attend to gender within the context of treatment. Findings also suggest the use of measurement-based care, and specifically attending to symptom fluctuation in PTSD symptom domains during treatment, can help inform clinical decision making and individualize treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).}, number={3}, journal={Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Ascienzo, Sarah and Sprang, Ginny and Royse, David}, year={2022}, month={Mar}, pages={488–496} } @article{ascienzo_sprang_royse_2022, title={“My Bad Experiences Are Not the Only Things Shaping Me Anymore”: Thematic Analysis of Youth Trauma Narratives}, volume={15}, ISSN={1936-1521 1936-153X}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40653-021-00431-4}, DOI={10.1007/s40653-021-00431-4}, abstractNote={The purpose of this study was to better understand how youth with poly-trauma histories appraise and make meaning of their traumatic experiences within the trauma narrative and processing components of Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and to explore the results of the meaning-making process. Thematic analysis was employed to explore the trauma narratives of youth (N = 16) ages 8 - 16 that were created during TF-CBT. Participants experienced a mean of 5.38 types of trauma that predominantly included various forms of child maltreatment. With regard to how youth appraise and interpret their traumatic experiences, four themes emerged, including I Am Not Safe, which denotes a lack of physical and psychological safety; It's My Fault, which symbolizes misattributions of responsibility; I Am Changed, which captures alterations in systems of meaning; and Why Did This Happen to Me?, which denotes the struggle to comprehend why the traumatic events occurred and their significance. With regard to the products of the meaning-making process, three themes emerged, including Now I Know, which denotes reappraisals; I Am Safe/r, which signifies increases in perceptions of safety, and I Can Do It, which includes the participant's perceptions of growth. Results from this study provide a deeper understanding of youth's experiences during these components of treatment, and illuminate the meaning-making process. Findings can help guide clinical-decision making, and highlight the importance of explicitly attending to specific components of the meaning-making process during trauma narration and processing.}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Ascienzo, Sarah and Sprang, Ginny and Royse, David}, year={2022}, month={Jan}, pages={741–753} } @article{ascienzo_sprang_eslinger_2020, title={Disseminating TF‐CBT: A Mixed Methods Investigation of Clinician Perspectives and the Impact of Training Format and Formalized Problem‐Solving Approaches on Implementation Outcomes}, volume={26}, ISSN={1356-1294 1365-2753}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jep.13351}, DOI={10.1111/jep.13351}, abstractNote={AbstractBackgroundTrauma Focused‐Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF‐CBT) has been established as an evidence‐based treatment for youth with traumatic stress symptoms. The versatility of TF‐CBT in conjunction with its established effectiveness has led to its widespread dissemination. However, dissemination efforts have not always translated into sustainability, which has prompted a more thorough investigation into those factors that impact implementation and encouraged the development of strategies that promote sustainability. Toward this end, the aims of this study were to: (1) determine which components of TF‐CBT clinicians found the most difficult to implement; (2) explore clinicians’ perceptions as to why these components were challenging; and (3) examine whether the use of formalized problem‐solving approaches (FPSAs) or training format was associated with implementation outcomes.MethodsA mixed methods design was utilized to analyse survey data from mental health professionals (N = 85) who received TF‐CBT training. Thematic analysis explored responses to questions concerning those TF‐CBT components respondents found most difficult to implement, while bivariate analyses helped determine whether training format or the use of FPSAs was associated with training engagement, confidence in delivering TF‐CBT, fidelity or sustainability.ResultsClinicians perceived the same three components of TF‐CBT as most difficult regardless of the type of training they received, and provider, youth, caregiver, and organizational‐related themes emerged from thematic analysis. Bivariate analyses indicated more extended training formats and the use of FPSAs were associated with greater implementation success.ConclusionFindings suggest that perceived difficulty of TF‐CBT components did not vary by training format, but more extended formats and the use of FPSAs were associated with more favourable implementation outcomes. Implementers should consider ways to utilize FPSAs within training programs, as well as focus on content identified by clinicians as difficult, as this may assist clinicians in developing skills and managing implementation barriers.}, number={6}, journal={Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Ascienzo, Sarah and Sprang, Ginny and Eslinger, Jessica}, year={2020}, month={Jan}, pages={1657–1668} } @article{eslinger_sprang_ascienzo_silman_2020, title={Fidelity and sustainability in evidence-based treatments for children: An investigation of implementation determinants}, volume={23}, ISSN={["1540-4072"]}, DOI={10.1080/10522158.2020.1724581}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT In order to improve access to and utilization of high-quality children’s mental health services, there have been considerable efforts to disseminate evidence-based treatments (EBTs) into community-based settings. However, these efforts have not always led to successful use of interventions overtime, and further understanding of how organizational and individual factors may serve as barriers to the implementation process is needed. To help measure implementation and sustainability success in a sample of 118 community-based mental health providers, a 70-item electronic survey was developed to query participant’s experiences with EBT implementation post-training. Results of hierarchical regression analysis suggest that more positive attitudes toward evidence-based practices, the provision of agency incentives, and more intensive training of the intervention increase the likelihood of EBT sustainability, while more positive attitudes toward evidence-based practice and more intensive training increase the likelihood that strategies to help promote protocol fidelity are used. Results contribute to the growing implementation literature in mental health. Post-training consultation may help increase a provider’s ability to manage organizational barriers inherent to providing EBTs within community-based settings. Provision of agency incentives, such as praise and financial compensation, as well as helping promote trainee’s positive attitudes toward EBTs, may also help increase likelihood of implementation success.}, number={2}, journal={JOURNAL OF FAMILY SOCIAL WORK}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Eslinger, Jessica and Sprang, Ginny and Ascienzo, Sarah and Silman, Miriam}, year={2020}, month={Mar}, pages={177–196} } @article{sprang_cole_leistner_ascienzo_2020, title={THE IMPACT OF SAFE HARBOR LEGISLATION ON COURT PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING SEX TRAFFICKED YOUTH: A QUALITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF JUDICIAL PERSPECTIVES (vol 58, pg 816, 2020)}, volume={58}, ISSN={["1744-1617"]}, DOI={10.1111/fcre.12519}, abstractNote={Family Court ReviewVolume 58, Issue 4 p. 1115-1115 ErratumFree Access The Impact of Safe Harbor Legislation on Court Proceedings Involving Sex Trafficked Youth: A Qualitative Investigation of Judicial Perspectives This article corrects the following: The Impact of Safe Harbor Legislation on Court Proceedings Involving Sex Trafficked Youth: A Qualitative Investigation of Judicial Perspectives Ginny Sprang, Jennifer Cole, Christine Leistner, Sarah Ascienzo, Volume 58Issue 3Family Court Review pages: 816-831 First Published online: July 27, 2020 First published: 27 October 2020 https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12519AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat In Sprang et al. (2020), the article was published with an incomplete author list and biography. They are completely listed below. Ginny Sprang, Jennifer Cole, Christine Leistner, and Sarah Ascienzo. Ginny Sprang, Ph.D., is a Professor in the College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry at the University of Kentucky, and the Executive Director of the UK Center on Trauma and Children. Dr. Sprang's work investigates child trauma, the commercial sexual exploitation of minors, victimization, and secondary traumatic stress. Her work involves the creation of translational tools, and development and implementation of evidence based practices to treat those exposed to these traumatic experiences. Jennifer Cole, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky Center on Drug and Alcohol Research with an appointment in the College of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Science. She is also affiliated with the University of Kentucky Center on Trauma and Children. Dr. Cole's research interests are victimization and substance abuse. Christine Leistner, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Public Health and Health Services Administration at California State University, Chico. Dr. Leistner is a public health scientist with a focus in the areas of sexual assault, sex trafficking of minors, childhood adversity and trauma, and sexual and relationship well-being. Dr. Leistner is an active member of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality and is a Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission Member in Butte County, CA. She is also involved in local-level organizational efforts focused on preventing childhood trauma and improving public health outcomes related to trauma in Butte County, CA. Sarah Ascienzo, Ph.D., LCSW is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at North Carolina State University. Dr. Ascienzo's work is aimed at mitigating the adverse impact of direct and indirect trauma exposure on individuals and communities. Her research primarily focuses on issues related to treatment outcomes, implementation, vicarious trauma, and the role of social context in trauma responses. Dr. Ascienzo's research, training and implementation activities are informed by over 15 years of clinical practice experience, during which she worked extensively with child welfare and juvenile justice-involved youth who had experienced complex trauma and sexual violence. The online version has been corrected. We apologize for this error. REFERENCE Sprang, G., Cole, J., Leistner, C., & Ascienzo, S. (2020). The impact of safe harbor legislation on court proceedings involving sex trafficked youth: A qualitative investigation of judicial perspectives. Family Court Review, 58(3), 816– 831. Volume58, Issue4October 2020Pages 1115-1115 ReferencesRelatedInformation}, number={4}, journal={FAMILY COURT REVIEW}, author={Sprang, Ginny and Cole, Jennifer and Leistner, Christine and Ascienzo, Sarah}, year={2020}, month={Oct}, pages={1115–1115} } @article{sprang_cole_leistner_ascienzo_2020, title={The Impact of Safe Harbor Legislation on Court Proceedings Involving Sex Trafficked Youth: A Qualitative Investigation of Judicial Perspectives}, volume={58}, ISSN={1531-2445 1744-1617}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12415}, DOI={10.1111/fcre.12415}, abstractNote={The passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) facilitated the conceptual shift in reframing youth involved in sex trafficking as victims, rather than criminals. Many states have passed legislation in the form of Safe Harbor laws to protect sex trafficked juveniles from criminal charges and provide rehabilitative services (Polaris, 2015). Nevertheless, limited research has examined the impact of Safe Harbor laws and the role juvenile and family court judges play in how minor victims of sex trafficking are treated by the court system. Consequently, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine juvenile and family court judges’ knowledge and perceptions of Safe Harbor legislation and identify legal challenges when presiding over cases involving sexually exploited youth. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with a national sample (N = 82) of family and juvenile court judges. Findings suggest that respondents perceive Safe Harbor laws to have positively affected both attitudes and practices, although several challenges and unintended negative effects were identified. Further, dispositional issues, difficulties with case identification, legal and policy issues, and challenges with interagency collaboration were identified as ongoing issues to address. Legal implications as well as practice and policy considerations based on the study findings are discussed.}, number={3}, journal={Family Court Review}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Sprang, Ginny and Cole, Jennifer and Leistner, Christine and Ascienzo, Sarah}, year={2020}, month={Jul}, pages={816–831} } @article{pope_buchino_ascienzo_2020, title={“Just like Jail”: Trauma Experiences of Older Homeless Men}, volume={63}, ISSN={0163-4372 1540-4048}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01634372.2020.1733727}, DOI={10.1080/01634372.2020.1733727}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT People experiencing homelessness often have a history of trauma, and losing one’s home is a traumatic event. The trauma of living in emergency shelters and on the streets uniquely impacts older adults, whose experiences of homelessness increase the likelihood of multiple health conditions and premature aging. This paper includes data from 18 men, aged 50 and older, who had experienced multiple instances of homelessness, as part of a larger study to understand the return path to homelessness from permanent housing. When participants spoke with us about their failure to be in housing, their inability to free themselves from reoccurring homelessness could not be discussed without talking about their trauma. Participants spoke of trauma in early life, perhaps precipitating homelessness, as well as traumatic experiences while homeless. The men discussed feeling imprisoned by the systemic issues around homelessness, facing mistreatment by service providers, and being exposed to external threats in their lives on the streets, including violence. Findings from this study lend themselves to the explicit need for trauma-informed care and supportive services that are sensitive to the urgency of homelessness as it is experienced by men in late life.}, number={3}, journal={Journal of Gerontological Social Work}, publisher={Informa UK Limited}, author={Pope, Natalie D. and Buchino, Susan and Ascienzo, Sarah}, year={2020}, month={Feb}, pages={143–161} } @article{sprang_eslinger_silman_ascienzo_2019, title={Predictors of evidence-based treatment implementation, sustainability, and fidelity}, volume={15}, number={1}, journal={Best Practices in Mental Health}, author={Sprang, G. and Eslinger, J. and Silman, M. and Ascienzo, S.}, year={2019}, month={May}, pages={41–48} } @inbook{ascienzo_2016, place={United Kingdom}, title={Intervening and treating emotional abuse}, ISBN={9781315736402}, booktitle={Emotional abuse of children: Essential information}, publisher={Routledge}, author={Ascienzo, S.}, editor={Royse, D.Editor}, year={2016}, pages={129–174} } @article{sprang_ross_miller_blackshear_ascienzo_2017, title={Psychometric properties of the Secondary Traumatic Stress–Informed Organizational Assessment.}, volume={23}, ISSN={1085-9373}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/trm0000108}, DOI={10.1037/trm0000108}, abstractNote={This article describes the development and psychometric properties of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Informed Organizational Assessment (STSI-OA), a 40-item instrument designed to evaluate the degree to which an organization is STS-informed and able to respond to the impact of secondary traumatic stress in the workplace. A sample of 629 respondents representing multiple systems of care, job roles, and functions completed the STSI-OA. Analyses revealed a 5 factor structure that explained a large proportion of variance, excellent internal consistency, good test–retest reliability, and concurrent criterion validity with the Trauma System Readiness Tool Vicarious Trauma domain. Quartile scores and means were calculated to allow for comparisons. Based on the results of this analysis, it appears the STSI-OA total and domain scores can be used to create a blueprint for organizational learning, and to reliably track progress toward desired change over time.}, number={2}, journal={Traumatology}, publisher={American Psychological Association (APA)}, author={Sprang, Ginny and Ross, Leslie and Miller, Brian C. and Blackshear, Kimberly and Ascienzo, Sarah}, year={2017}, month={Jun}, pages={165–171} } @article{ascienzo_2016, title={Reflections on the scientist-practitioner model in social work doctoral education}, volume={12}, number={2}, journal={Perspectives on Social Work}, author={Ascienzo, S.}, year={2016}, pages={39–48} } @book{royse_2015, title={Emotional Abuse of Children}, DOI={10.4324/9781315736402}, publisher={Routledge}, author={Royse, David}, year={2015} }