No abstract

This article is reporting data from the qualitative arm of a mixed-methods study in which the researchers explored perceptions of compassion fatigue (CF), compassion satisfaction (CS), and burnout (BO) among a subset of clinical providers from various disciplines providing services to highly traumatized youth. Thirty-six providers (case managers, psychology fellows, psychologists, and clinical social workers) completed an anonymous online survey collecting demographic, professional, and personal data. Twenty-five providers participated in discipline-specific focus groups that solicited reflections on providing services to traumatized youth. Qualitative analyses provided rich illustrations of the impact of working with highly traumatized youth. Results also highlighted the unique nuances of how each provider type perceived and experienced CF, CS, and BO and presented how personal, professional, and organizational factors interacted to influence the manifestation of these constructs.

The current study conducted interviews and focus groups with twenty-four diverse 16-25 yearold parents to elicit in-depth narratives about experiences related to parenting status. Parents were recruited from a case management program in the Southwestern United States supporting high school graduation and workforce employment (for mothers and fathers, respectively). Young parents disclosed experiences of shame, stigma, and discrimination associated with perceptions about their "fitness" to be a parent and moral judgment. Themes arose that revealed the positive, adaptive ways that participants coped with potentially deleterious experiences with a focus on their role as a parent and role model for their children. Our findings highlight positive meaning-making and resiliency of young parents when confronted with discrimination and systemic barriers, with many participants focusing on the benefits of parenthood within a unique developmental context. Further, implications for program development, provider trainings, and public policy and advocacy efforts for young parents are discussed.