Community ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Project Promotes Cross-Sector Collaboration and Evidence-Based Trauma-Informed Care

Background Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur before age 18 years. ACEs, associated with negative health behaviors and chronic health disorders, disproportionately impact people from poor and marginalized communities. Toxic stress from ACEs can be prevented and treated with trauma-informed care. Inadequate training prevents the maternal and child workforce from providing evidence-based trauma-informed care. Cross-sector collaboration between pediatric care sectors is crucial to providing systems-wide trauma-informed care, but significant barriers impede cross sector communication. Training and formal cross-sector communication networks are needed to create strong systems of trauma-informed care in communities. The Stanford ACEs Aware ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) program was created with 3 workforce development goals: 1) introduce the California Office of Surgeon General-led ACEs Aware Initiative to the maternal and child health workforce in 3 California counties, 2) disseminate trauma-informed evidence-based best practices, 3) bridge community silos to increase collaboration between care sectors to promote trauma-informed care systems. Methods Participants were recruited from Federally Qualified Health Centers, county public health departments, community behavioral health organizations, educational institutions, and agencies that serve low-income children and families. 100 unique participants representing 3 counties and 54 agencies joined sessions. Twelve virtual educational sessions were convened over 6 months using the Project ECHO model via Zoom technology. Sessions consisted of didactic lectures and whole-group case-based discussions. Results After completing the educational series, participants expressed commitment to increased cross-sector collaboration, and reported increased knowledge and confidence in using trauma-informed skills. After participation, a significant number of participants had also completed another recommended California ACEs Aware Initiative online training. Conclusion An ECHO series of virtual workforce development sessions on trauma-informed best practices promoted cross-sector communication and was associated with strong participant engagement and satisfaction. The educational series increased knowledge and confidence in use of evidence-based trauma-informed best practices.