Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice with Victims of Communal Violence in Plateau State

Communal violence in Plateau State has generated pervasive trauma among affected populations, demanding professional social work responses grounded in trauma-informed frameworks that acknowledge the psychological complexity of conflict experiences. This study empirically evaluates trauma-informed social work practice with victims of communal violence in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, drawing on data from Jos North and Barkin-Ladi. A quasi-experimental design is employed, comparing outcomes for 90 trauma-affected individuals receiving trauma-informed social work services with 90 individuals receiving standard welfare services over a 12-week period. The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire and a social functioning scale are administered at baseline, mid-point, and endpoint. Paired t-tests and between-group analyses are used. The study finds that trauma-informed social work services produce significantly better reductions in trauma symptom severity and improvements in daily social functioning compared to standard welfare services. Social workers delivering trauma-informed practice with formal supervision demonstrate significantly higher fidelity and better client outcomes. The study makes an original empirical contribution by demonstrating the measurable added value of trauma-informed approaches in a Nigerian communal violence context. Recommendations include establishing trauma-informed practice as a required competency within Nigerian social work qualification frameworks and embedding it in field placement supervision structures. Keywords: trauma-informed practice, communal violence, social work, Plateau State, post-traumatic outcomes