Creating Systems of Trauma-Informed Care

Course Length: This course takes a minimum of 6 hours to complete. This is a combination of time spent watching the videos and completing the required readings, listening to a podcast and preparing an assignment. Video module 11 was added in June 2017 to provide additional TIC information.

Description:

This online course offers the training in a video format. All course handouts can be viewed online, saved to your computer or printed.

This training provides a critical foundation in understanding the importance of moving a human service agency or service system from its current state, to one that is more supportive and respectful of the needs of trauma survivors. All levels of staff within an organization can benefit from this presentation.

A high percentage of individuals are served and treated without awareness of the individual’s trauma history and its relationship to their presenting problem. The consequences of this can include:

• Inappropriate diagnosis
• Ineffective treatment
• Inability to engage and retain the individual in services
• A focus on what is “wrong with a person” instead of “what happened to this person”
• Failure to make referrals to needed trauma treatment services
• Inadvertent retraumatization of the individual by the agency service system which is the triggering of an onset of/ or worsening of trauma symptoms

When a human service organization learns how to provide Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), they educate their staff about the effects of violence, victimization and trauma on individuals.  The organization also educates its staff about the effects client trauma can have on the employees working with them. Research indicates that staff can develop post-traumatic stress and sometimes PTSD from their work.

This educational process creates the foundation to achieve an organizational understanding of how to design services to support trauma survivors and how to support staff. Every aspect of the agency services from how the receptionist handles phone calls and the arrival of clients, to how the board of directors and executive staff make service policy decisions needs to be viewed through a trauma-informed lens. Trauma-Informed Care is not specifically designed to treat symptoms related to sexual abuse, physical abuse or other trauma, but to ensure that professionals are informed about and sensitive to the trauma-related issues presented by individuals, and that the organization has reviewed its operations, policies and procedures to ensure all services are provided in a trauma-informed model. An example of this would be the agency maintenance staff who finds a confused client in the parking lot. This person may be a trauma survivor who was just triggered by something or someone in the parking lot and has briefly dissociated. While this staff person is not responsible for treating the client, they need to understand the basics of trauma and be able to respond to the person in a sensitive, appropriate manner to get them into the building for further assistance.

Implementing a Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) model creates a supportive and therapeutic environment for individuals exposed to trauma and also for staff. This includes learning about each client’s past and current history of abuse and psychological trauma.

The organization also acts to adhere to the five guiding TIC principles below in its provision of services. These principles apply to the entire organization (staff and clients). This is a key aspect of the Trauma-Informed Care model.

•  Promoting emotional and physical safety for individuals
• Creating an environment where  the agency and all of its staff are viewed as trustworthy
• Providing service and treatment choices for individuals
• Creating a collaborative relationship with the individual to meet their goals for healing, instead of a power-based relationship where the staff member is in control
• Empowering the individual to move advocate for themselves and their needs

In addition, new content  (video module 11 and the additional handouts) has been added to address the SAMHSA 10 Implementation Domains for TIC: governance & leadership; policy; physical environment; engagement & involvement; cross sector collaboration; screening, assessment, treatment services; training & workforce development; progress monitoring & quality assurance; financing; evaluation.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize why trauma must be addressed in the human service system;
• Develop ways to incorporate the consumer perspective into trauma-informed care;
• Identify specific components of a Trauma-Informed Care model;
• Plan to assess your organization and services, and define the steps needed to move forward in transforming the service environment into a Trauma-Informed Care model;
• Describe the ethical and human rights issues related to Trauma-Informed Care.
• Apply the 10 TIC Implementation Domains

Course Outline:

1. Introduction to trauma and its impact
2. Anna’s story of trauma and retraumatization
3. Common practices that retraumatize people
4. Trauma and its implications and prevalence
5. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study
6. Creating systems of Trauma-Informed Care, Guiding Principles, & Culture Change
7. Sandra Bloom, MD, The Sanctuary Model: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Treatment and Services Podcast 
8. An individual’s Story of trauma and retraumatization
9. Trauma-Informed Care Self-Reflection Exercise (based on the role plays in the last part of the course) Use the handout in the Materials tab of the course site.
10. Completion of readings listed the Materials tab of the course site
11.  OPTIONAL for Administrators: See extra administrator’s handout in the Materials tab of the course site.

Trauma-Informed Certificate Programs, University at Buffalo School of Social Work Office of Continuing Education: This course fulfills 6 FOUNDATION hours.

Target Audience

This course is appropriate for any human service professional (social workers, psychologists, nurses, criminal justice professionals, case managers, administrators, and others).

ADA Accommodations

If you require any supports for your ADA needs in the United States, please contact us by email at least 3 weeks prior to the event by email at  sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at  716-829-5841.

Customer Service

We are happy to respond to any concerns or questions you may have. Please contact us at by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or by phone at 716-829-5841.                            

Course Completion:

• Upon completion of watching the videos and related assignments, you will need to complete the evaluation and course quiz.
• Based on best continuing education practice, quizzes are included to verify your acquisition of knowledge. A score of 80% is needed to pass. You may retake the quiz if you do not achieve a passing score the first time.
• Certificate of Completion: Upon successful completion of the quiz, you will be able to print your Certificate of Completion that includes your name, completion date, and the self-study CEUs listed on the Credit tab of the course description.

Lead Instructor:

Susan A. Green, LCSW, is one of our most popular instructors. Sue is a certified EMDR therapist with certification in Advanced Critical Incident Stress Management and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She works part-time as a trauma therapist and clinical supervisor for therapeutic foster care in Buffalo, New York.  Sue is a full time Clinical Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo, School of Social Work, and co-director of the School's Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care. Sue trains nationally and has also co-presented on Integrating Solution-Focused Techniques and Trauma-Informed Care, at the International Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association Conference in Banff, Canada.

Assistant Instructors:

Nancy J. Smyth, PhD, LCSW-R, BCETS, EMDR, Certified EMDR Therapist, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, University Instructor, and  Dean at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work. Dr. Smyth is a leader in promoting trauma-informed care.
Samantha Loury, LMSW, is the the Project Manager/Trainer at The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care, University at Buffalo School of Social Work. She assisted Sue Green with teh presentation of the video on teh SAMHSA 10 TIC Implementation Domains.

MSW Assistants: A special thank you to 2012 MSW Graduate Kaleigh Mullen for assisting Sue Green with the preparation of this course and the Trauma-Informed Care Self-Reflection Exercise. We extend special appreciation to our MSW students who volunteered in the role plays for this exercise.