Compassion can be defined as “feeling for” others who are in pain with warmth, empathetic concern, and the capacity to understand their perspective and intentions. Compassion is necessary for staff in human service settings to effectively engage clients, understand the context surrounding their journey and personal goals, and accurately identify a path forward and appropriate support services. But if we consider compassion as a finite resource, what happens if it runs out?

This brief, which was prepared in conjunction with PeerTA Podcast Episode 2: Combatting Compassion Fatigue, focuses on emerging issues from the perspective of a program staff member. The brief examines the following questions: What is compassion fatigue and why should I care about it? What are the factors that may lead to compassion fatigue and how might I recognize it? What steps can I take to help combat compassion fatigue and alleviate its effects? What can I learn from colleagues at other TANF programs about compassion fatigue?

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) convened an interagency workgroup of key HHS experts in overdose prevention and substance use disorders to develop a new strategy to address the evolving nature of the broadened overdose crisis. The Overdose Prevention Strategy includes four priority areas: 

1) Primary prevention, 2)  Harm reduction, 3) Evidence-based treatment, 4) Recovery support

This issue brief discusses the Strategy in greater detail, including the objectives under each priority area, associated activities, and guiding principles. 

For additional resources, see the PeerTA Resource Library for reports, research-to-practice briefs, toolkits, fact/tip sheets, and stakeholder resources as well as webinars that address the overdose crisis, substance use, and related supportive services.

This fact sheet targeted primarily for young adults offers information on what it means to take care of oneself as well as hotline telephone numbers and links to information on conversation starters and self-care.

This blogpost defines the concepts of caregiver burnout versus compassion fatigue. It also presents how to recognize compassion fatigue by identifying warning signs in family caregivers, and how to use self-care to prevent compassion fatigue.

The National Association of Case Management held a webinar on May 13, 2020, during which participants learned about the symptoms of Caregiver Fatigue, how to recognize Caregiver Fatigue prior to the symptoms becoming problematic, and ways to identify techniques to reduce symptoms of Caregiver Fatigue. The webinar was led by Bridget Thompson, a Certified Health Coach and a Housing Coordinator at Region V Systems, where she manages programs specializing in housing individuals experiencing chronic homelessness, and mental health and substance abuse issues. A webinar recording is available for download.

This toolkit responds to a technical assistance request by the Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up program to support ongoing efforts seeking to better serve families through a trauma-informed lens. The toolkit reflects information gathered through a series of ongoing discussions and two site visits with leadership and staff from the Vermont Department for Children and Families that occurred between March and October 2019. It uses the Vermont Reach Up program as a model to illustrate how other TANF programs can apply and adapt information and tools to inform their efforts to build more trauma-informed policies, practices, and offices.

This toolkit provides leaders overseeing frontline staff, managers, or other unit-based roles with guidance on assessing their staff’s potential risk of compassion fatigue. The toolkit identifies a five-step process for administering a compassion fatigue assessment, and includes a compassion fatigue discussion guide and a compassion fatigue literature guide.

This blogpost addresses several topics related to compassion fatigue. It defines and identifies symptoms of compassion fatigue compared to burnout and primary traumatic stress. The blogpost also graphically illustrates the compassion fatigue process, offers tips for managing compassion fatigue, and presents the ABC’s of Prevention — Awareness, Balance, and Connections.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other human services programs faced unprecedented challenges managing the COVID-19 global pandemic. They were tasked with serving America’s most vulnerable families as they navigated difficult economic circumstances and public health risks. TANF program staff reported that they and the families they serve were showing signs of stress, including lack of focus, fatigue, agitation, and a sense of hopelessness. In response to these crises, TANF leaders adapted in new and innovative ways to support staff and families. This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief captures how TANF programs adapted to promote staff and participant wellness and the innovative adaptations that leaders might consider adopting or sustaining moving forward.

This blogpost illustrates how to cope with negative emotions spurred by holidays and family gatherings. The blogpost presents the Change Triangle to providers as a guide to help clients work with emotions and the ways they avoid them, as well as steps to “work the triangle” and identify and be with emotions so they stay connected with themselves. Vignettes explain how two individuals used the Change Triangle, and five suggestions are presented to help families and individuals get through the holidays.