Stronger Care
Trauma Free World is committed to ongoing research, development, and evaluation to ensure our materials are informed by current research on trauma and trauma-informed care. With expertise in child development, community-engaged research, and trauma-informed care, our research team helps maintain the quality of our curriculum and advance our mission to provide high-quality trauma training for everyone, everywhere.
Annual Evaluation Reports
Each year, Trauma Free World evaluates our content and program implementation to maintain a high standard of excellence. These evaluations focus on three key areas: social validity, outcomes, and fidelity. Explore our annual evaluation reports below.
Publications
The Trauma Free World research team conducts ongoing studies to deepen our understanding of trauma, trauma-informed care, and the impact of our curriculum. Explore selected academic publications below.
Smeyne, C.N., Cooper, J., Trott, C. D. & Jockin, A. (2025). Trauma competent caregiving: A pilot evaluation of a virtual trauma-informed caregiver training for foster and kinship parents in the United States. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-025-01039-5
Smeyne, C.N., Trott, C. D., Furst-Holloway, S., & Jacquez, F. (2024). Fostering self-determination – A review and research agenda advancing Self-Determination Theory as a unifying framework for youth well-being in foster care research. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-024-00987-8
Smeyne, C.N. (2024). Fostering Participation and Change: A Note to the Field. (2024). Action Research, 23 (2), 209-225. https://doi.org/10.1177/14767503241253371
Ongoing Research Studies
Trauma Competent Foster, Kinship, and Adoptive Caregivers
The purpose of this study is to evaluate Trauma Free World’s Advanced Trauma Competent Caregiving curriculum for foster, kinship, and adoptive caregivers in the United States.
Research Study Flyer
Partnerships
Taylor University
Trauma Free World maintains an academic partnership with Taylor University, where Dr. Catelyn Smeyne serves as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of History, Global, and Political Studies.
