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 can be necessary for human service settings to effectively engage clients, understand the context surrounding their journey and personal goals, and accurately identify appropriate support services. But if we consider compassion as a finite resource, what happens if it runs out? 

Host Bright Sarfo explores a condition called compassion fatigue in this second episode of the PeerTA podcast. He talks to Anna Tekippe, a clinician at the Center for Work Education and Employment in Denver; Santa Molina-Marshall, a holistic psychotherapist located in the DC with expertise in compassion fatigue; and, Gerrie Cotter a Project Manager for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. They share their experiences and knowledge about compassion fatigue, as well as effective strategies to combatting compassion fatigue within TANF programs and other human services settings. 

The PeerTA Podcast series facilitates information sharing across state and local agencies implementing TANF and other programs serving low-income families to provide technical assistance, facilitate dialogue, and help programs learn about effective strategies to support families.

Music: “Penny the Snitch” by Ikebe Shakedown from the Free Music Archive under Creative Commons licensing.

The PeerTA Podcast Episode 2: Combatting Compassion Fatigue

This podcast is produced by MEF under the PeerTA contract on behalf of the Office of Family Assistance (OFA). It explores various strategies agencies have taken to gather and use input from individuals with lived experience to benefit agencies’ understanding, decision making, and programming. Podcast speakers discuss varying approaches that range from gathering survey feedback on program operations, to forming participant advisory committees, to incorporating participant-led case management practices, to hiring individuals with lived experience into permanent positions. The podcast also explores how to engage lived experiences equitably, including discussions of appropriate compensation of individuals for their time and expertise.

The PeerTA Podcast Episode 2: Combatting Compassion Fatigue

MEF Associates

Related tracks