Building a Trauma Informed System of Care Toolkit

Building a Trauma Informed System of Care Trauma I formed Care Trai the Trainer

Rev. 5/2019

Using ACEs

A Trauma-Informed Environment

∗ Clients are treated as equal, valued humans ∗ Staff/volunteers are aware of boundaries ∗ Hugging example (choices) ∗ Use language that communicates empowerment and recovery ∗ Punitive approaches, shaming techniques, and intrusive monitoring are avoided ∗ Actions and words that may be re-traumatizing are avoided ∗ Conflict is dealt with through negotiation

∗ We don’t have to know a firm score to treat someonewith TIC. We just need an awareness of trauma history. ∗ Reluctance of traditional service providers to “open this can of worms” in talking about trauma. ∗ Information about how IRB insisted they have a counselor on call 24/7 during the ACE study but NO one called for the counselor. ∗ We aren’t sure yet how or howwell TIC “works,” but so far it looks much better than other things we’ve tried.

https://youtu.be/IUJPJ4eW8kQ

Healing “Neen” Video

∗ Tonier “Neen” Cain homeless for almost two decades after a childhood of abuse and neglect (ACE score of 10).

∗ Arrested over 80 times with 66 criminal convictions (substance abuse and prostitution). ∗ Offered TIC-related program when incarcerated and pregnant in 2004. ∗ Now she is on staff and is a national spokesperson for the National Center for Trauma Informed Care.

Healing Neen

Discussion on Healing “Neen”

Module 3

∗ Did you recognize a trend in the stories of other women incarcerated? ∗ Trauma is not an excuse for crime or addictions, but it does offer an explanation.

∗ Describe her childhood. ∗ What behaviors did childhood trauma lead to? ∗ Note her disruptive attitude while in jail – adaptation to trauma not just bad behavior.

Principles of Trauma Informed Approaches

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